title: Vitamin D and cardiovascular disease will it live up to its hype?
abstract: Substantial evidence suggests that a large portion of the population have suboptimal levels of vitamin D, which may adversely affect the cardiovascular (CV) system, including increasing levels of parathyroid hormone, activating the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and increasing insulin resistance, thus leading to hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy, metabolic syndrome/diabetes mellitus, systemic inflammation, and increased risk of atherosclerosis and CV disease events. We review the evidence that vitamin D deficiency is associated with incident CV disease events, as well as evidence that vitamin D supplementation is associated with reduction in CV diseases. Although the current evidence has created substantial hype, randomized controlled trials are needed to determine whether routine vitamin D assessment and supplementation will improve CV outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School, University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA. clavie@ochsner.org
authors.forename: Carl J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lavie
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Richard V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Milani
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D014807:Vitamin D