title: Vitamin D receptor activation and cardiovascular disease.
abstract: Vitamin D has been recently associated with several renal, cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, beyond mineral metabolism and bone health. This is due in part to widespread expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR) on tissues and cells such as heart, kidney, immune cells, brain and muscle. In chronic kidney disease (CKD) and other chronic disorders, vitamin D deficiency [serum 25(OH)D <20 ng/mL] is very common and is associated with adverse outcomes. Paricalcitol, a selective activator of VDR, has demonstrated in several experimental and clinical studies of diabetic and non-diabetic CKD a favourable profile compared to other VDR activators, alone or as add-on to standard therapy. These beneficial effects are mediated by different actions such as reduction of oxidative stress, inflammation, downregulation of cardiac and renal renin expression, downregulation of calcifying genes and direct vascular protective effects. Furthermore, paricalcitol beneficial effects may be independent of baseline serum parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium and phosphate levels. These benefits should be confirmed in large and well-designed ongoing clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, IIS Fundación Jiménez Díaz Autonoma University and FRIAT, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Parra
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rojas-Rivera
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tuñón
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Praga
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.forename: Jesus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Egido
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000502:physiology*; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol