Active serum vitamin D levels are inversely correlated with coronary calcification.
BACKGROUND
Arterial calcification is a common feature of atherosclerosis, occurring in >90% of angiographically significant lesions. Recent evidence from this and other studies suggests that development of atherosclerotic calcification is similar to osteogenesis; thus, we undertook the current investigation on the potential role of osteoregulatory factors in arterial calcification.


RESULTS
We studied two human populations (173 subjects) at high and moderate risk for coronary heart disease and assessed them for associations between vascular calcification and serum levels of the osteoregulatory molecules osteocalcin, parathyroid hormone, and 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-vitamin D). Our results revealed that 1,25-vitamin D levels are inversely correlated with the extent of vascular calcification in both groups. No correlations were found between extent of calcification and levels of osteocalcin or parathyroid hormone.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest a possible role for vitamin D in the development of vascular calcification. Vitamin D is also known to be important in bone mineralization; thus, 1,25-vitamin D may be one factor to explain the long observed association between osteoporosis and vascular calcification.
Watson
K E
KE
Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, and Harbor-University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center, 90095, USA. kwatson@medicine.medsch.ucla.edu
Abrolat
M L
ML
Malone
L L
LL
Hoeg
J M
JM
Doherty
T
T
Detrano
R
R
Demer
L L
LL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood
D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D015675:Osteocalcin; D014807:Vitamin D; C097949:1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D; D002118:Calcium