title: Molecular mechanism of vitamin D in the cardiovascular system.
abstract: Vitamin D deficiency is a global health problem that has various adverse consequences. Vitamin D is mainly synthesized in the skin by sunlight (UV light) irradiation; therefore, vitamin D status is influenced by geographic locations, seasonal changes, and skin pigmentations. The kidney is involved in the biosynthesis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and the reuptake of filtered 25-hydroxyvitamin D from the proximal tubules, thus, vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in patients with kidney disease who have renal insufficiency. There is a growing body of epidemiological and clinical evidence in the literature that links vitamin D deficiency to cardiovascular disease. The discovery of the vitamin D hormone functioning as an endocrine inhibitor of the renin-angiotensin system provides an explanation for this association. This review will discuss the mechanism underlying the connection between vitamin D and cardiovascular disease and its physiological and therapeutic implications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. cyan@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
authors.forename: Yan Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004703:Endocrine System; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D010641:Phenotype; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System; D012306:Risk; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D