title: Vitamin D and atherosclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide an overview of the association between vitamin D deficiency and atherosclerosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vitamin D exerts protective effects on atherosclerosis through multiple mechanisms. It has been shown to protect against endothelial dysfunction, vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration, and modulation of the immune system, as well as the inflammatory response. In addition, vitamin D has been shown to have systemic effects on insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin D deficiency is widely prevalent in the United States and worldwide. Although deficiency of this fat-soluble vitamin is usually associated with musculoskeletal disorder, it is associated with a wide range of disease processes that include multiple organ systems. Recently, there has been mounting evidence linking vitamin D deficiency to cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Cardiovascular Diseases, John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School- The University of Queensland School of Medicine bDepartment of Preventive Cardiology, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, Baton Rouge, Louisiana cMid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Arthur R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.forename: Marie C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lamb
authors.forename: Carl J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lavie
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: DiNicolantonio
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D014815:Vitamins / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D