title: Vitamin D3, D2 and arterial wall properties in coronary artery disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are two major forms of vitamin D, vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). We studied the effect of the different vitamin D fractions (D3/D2) on arterial wall properties in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 252 subjects with CAD. Endothelial function was evaluated by flow mediated dilation (FMD). Carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured as an index of arterial stiffness and augmentation index (AI) as a measure of reflected waves. Measures for 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3 were performed using Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry technology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the study population, 155(62%), 66(26%) and 31(12%) were categorized as having vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency and sufficiency respectively. There was no difference between subjects with vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency and sufficiency in FMD, AI and PWV (p=NS for all). Subjects with vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency had significantly higher D2 to D ratio compared to subjects with vitamin D sufficiency. Interestingly, FMD was positively associated with D2 to D ratio (rho=0.13, p=0.02) and subjects with D2 levels<0.3ng/ml had impaired FMD compared to those with increased D2 levels (p=0.048).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency is highly prevalent in CAD subjects. Vitamin D2 concentrations are positively associated with endothelial function. These findings may suggest a beneficial role of vitamin D2 levels in vascular health.
authors.forename: Gerasimos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Siasos
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tousoulis
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oikonomou
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maniatis
authors.forename: Stamatios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kioufis
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kokkou
authors.forename: Manolis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vavuranakis
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaromitidou
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kassi
authors.forename: Antigoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miliou
authors.affiliation: Vas. Sophias 114 str, 115 28, Athens, Greece. gsiasos@med.uoa.gr.
authors.forename: Christodoulos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stefanadis
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D004872:Ergocalciferols / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D059289:Vascular Stiffness; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D004872:Ergocalciferols; D002762:Cholecalciferol