Vitamin D, Low-Grade Inflammation and Cardiovascular Risk in Young Children: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Vitamin D has anti-inflammatory properties, and deficiency is prevalent in children. There is a paucity of data regarding vitamin D status and its correlation with low-grade inflammation and vasculature. We prospectively enrolled 25 children, 9-11 years old (13 male); 21 obese. Eight atherosclerosis-promoting risk factors were scored as categorical variables with the following thresholds defining abnormality: body mass index Z score ≥ 1.5; systolic blood pressure ≥ 95th percentile (for age, sex, and height); triglyceride ≥ 100 mg/dL; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥ 110 mg/dL; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≤ 45 mg/dL; hemoglobin A1C (HBA1C) ≥ 5.5; 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) D] ≤ 30 ng/mL, and tobacco smoke exposure. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was measured to assess low-grade inflammation and classified as low- (<1 mg/L), average- (1-3 mg/L), and high-risk (>3 to <10 mg/L) groups. The proportion of children within each hsCRP group who had above threshold risk factors was calculated. Carotid artery ultrasound was performed to measure carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT). Median (range) for 25(OH) D was 24 (17-45) ng/mL. Eighteen were either 25 (OH) D deficient (<20 ng/mL) or insufficient (20-30 ng/mL), and seven were sufficient (>30 ng/mL). hsCRP was 1.7 (0.2-9.1) mg/L, with 11 being <1.0 mg/L, 8 between 1.0-3.0 and 6 > 3.0 to < 10.0 mg/L. Risk factor score was 3.9 ± 1.7 out of eight. 25(OH) D levels did not correlate with hsCRP or CIMT. While vitamin D deficiency, inflammation, and risk factors coexist at a very young age, causative mechanisms remain unclear.

Serum Vitamin D Level and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies and Randomized Control Trials

“…Similarly, van de Luijtgaarden et al [41] showed that low vitamin D status was associated with higher CIMT. Our findings are in contrast with recent studies [42][43][44][45][46] that demonstrated there was no association between vitamin D level and CIMT. There are several possible explanations for discrepancy in findings of the studies including differences in vitamin D dosage of supplementation and serum level of vitamin D, differences in study design, different methods of CIMT measurement and the various populations (healthy vs. unhealthy subjects and adult vs. children).…”

Vitamin D Ameliorates Angiotensin II-Induced Human Endothelial Progenitor Cell Injury via the PPAR-γ/HO-1 Pathway

“…Vitamin D has been shown to inhibit inflammatory reactions, which can affect the function of many organs, including organs in the cardiovascular and vascular systems [7-11]. Furthermore, vitamin D deficiency has been identified as a risk factor for myocardial infarction, heart failure, and inflammatory cardiovascular disease [12-14].…”

Vitamin D and its correlation with blood lipids and intima-media thickness in term infants

“…For c-IMT measurement, the proximal part of the carotid bulb of the right carotid artery was identified, and the closest 1 to 2 cm segment of the common carotid artery was scanned (20). The c-IMT was identified 10 mm below the distal wall of the common carotid artery, within 2 cm of the carotid bifurcation (21). All measurements were made by the same radiologist, who was unaware of the participants' 25(OH)D levels.…”