title: Vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular disease: Is there a role for vitamin D therapy in heart failure?
abstract: Accumulating evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency is associated with cardiovascular disease, and that vitamin D therapy may have significant mortality and morbidity benefits in the treatment of congestive heart failure. However, the potential protective role of vitamin D in the heart, as well as the mechanism of action of the hormone in this organ, are poorly understood. In this review, the potential mechanisms of action of vitamin D in cardiac dysfunction are discussed, and the experimental and clinical findings that provide evidence for a role of vitamin D in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases are reviewed.Accumulating evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency is associated with cardiovascular disease, and that vitamin D therapy may have significant mortality and morbidity benefits in the treatment of congestive heart failure. However, the potential protective role of vitamin D in the heart, as well as the mechanism of action of the hormone in this organ, are poorly understood. In this review, the potential mechanisms of action of vitamin D in cardiac dysfunction are discussed, and the experimental and clinical findings that provide evidence for a role of vitamin D in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Cardiovascular Division, 3 Blackfan Circle, Room 910, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Wooseung
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000150:complications; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D