title: Vitamin D concentrations, endothelial progenitor cells, and cardiovascular risk factors.
abstract: Our study aimed to establish the association of vitamin D status with the level of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and circulating angiogenic cells (CACs) and to demonstrate the effect of vitamin D on the level of lipoproteins responsible for increased cardiovascular risk and high blood pressure. 41 healthy adults were selected. EPCs were defined as CD34+/KDR+ cells, and CACs were defined as cells that expressed endothelial markers after incubation of mononuclear blood cells with endothelial growth factors during 5 days. We found a positive association between EPCs, CACs and the level of vitamin D and an inverse correlation between several subclasses of lipoproteins. The level of vitamin D higher than 40 ng/ml demonstrated a positive effect on regulation of blood pressure, and there was significant difference in cholesterol/HDL ratio, very low-density lipoproteins, and triglycerides for groups of subjects with varying levels of vitamin D.
authors.affiliation: Center for the Improvement of Human Functioning International, Inc., Bio-communication Research Institute Division, Wichita, KS 67219, USA. nmikirova@brightspot.org
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Mikirova
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Belcaro
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Riordan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D014807:Vitamin D