title: The effect of vitamin D status on risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
abstract: Vitamin-D-related pathways are implicated in various endocrine, inflammatory and endothelial functions. An estimated 1 billion people in the world have vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency, and undiagnosed vitamin D deficiency is common. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with substantial increases in the incidence of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, myocardial infarction and stroke, as well as in diseases such as chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes. Low vitamin D levels also upregulate the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, increase inflammation and cause endothelial dysfunction. However, the role of vitamin D deficiency in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is an emerging and hotly debated topic. Epidemiological studies suggest an association between low vitamin D levels and risk factors for cardiovascular disease, but a causal relationship has not been established, and clinical trials and meta-analyses have not demonstrated convincing evidence that vitamin D therapy improves cardiovascular outcomes. Some evidence suggests that vitamin D status is a biomarker of lifestyle, since unhealthy and sedentary lifestyles are associated with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency and are also risk factors for cardiovascular complications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Nephrology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Sujana S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Gunta
authors.forename: Ravi I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Thadhani
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Mak
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D