Vitamin D3 and cardiovascular function in rats.

Abstract

We have previously identified a receptor for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in myocardial cells (Simpson, R. U. 1983. Circulation. 68:239.). To establish the relevance of this observation, we evaluated the role of the prohormone vitamin D3 in regulating cardiovascular function. In rats maintained on a vitamin D3-deficient diet for nine weeks, increases in systolic blood pressure (BP) and serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) were observed. These increases coincided with a reduction of serum calcium from 10.3 to 5.6 mg/dl. However, while serum calcium remained depressed throughout the study, increases in BP and serum CPK were transient. After nine weeks of vitamin D3-depletion, but not after six weeks, ventricular and vascular muscle contractile function were also markedly enhanced. The increase in ventricular contractile function could not be prevented by maintaining serum calcium at 9.0 mg/dl during the period of D3-depletion. These observations suggest a primary role for the vitamin D3-endocrine system in regulating cardiovascular function.

Vitamin D deficiency and myocardial diseases

“…Elevated serum creatinine phosphokinase and a significant increase in aortic ring and cardiac contractility were observed in the vitamin D-deficient rats [60]. This increased cardiac contractility could not be prevented by maintenance of serum calcium at normal levels [61].…”

“…Weishaar and Simpson examined cardiovascular changes of rats kept on a vitamin D-deficient diet for up to 9 wk [60]. Elevated serum creatinine phosphokinase and a significant increase in aortic ring and cardiac contractility were observed in the vitamin D-deficient rats [60].…”

Vitamin D and public health: an overview of recent research on common diseases and mortality in adulthood

“…Opinions about the role of vitamin D in CVD started to change (by 1980) with the publication of the hypothesis that UV radiation, through vitamin D formation, may protect against CVD (86) , which was subsequently expanded (87) ; and the identification of a vitamin D receptor in rat heart (88) , along with animal studies showing that vitamin D affected cardiovascular function (89) . The first case-control studies to use the newly developed assay for 25(OH)D found, unexpectedly at the time, that myocardial infarction cases had similar or lower 25(OH)D levels than controls (90)(91)(92) .…”

Effect of Paricalcitol on Left Ventricular Mass and Function in CKD—The OPERA Trial

“…3,4 Experimental studies showed associations between vitamin D deficiency and impairment of cardiac contractile function, 5 increased myocardial collagen content, and increased cardiac mass. 6,7 Similarly, targeted deletion of the vitamin D receptor gene resulted in increased cardiomyocyte size and LV weight. 8 Treatment with activated vitamin D attenuated myocardial hypertrophy in experimental models of cardiac hypertrophy 9 and prevented the development of heart failure, 10,11 clearly supporting a biologic role of activated vitamin D and vitamin D receptor on the myocardium.…”