title: Measuring coronary artery calcification: is serum vitamin D relevant?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To synthesize evidence of the association between low vitamin D levels and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis measured by coronary artery calcium (CAC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic MEDLINE search was conducted for relevant published literature. Ten studies (7 cross-sectional, 3 longitudinal) met the inclusion criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three of 6 studies showed association with CAC prevalence (CAC >0 or >10). Four of 8 studies found an association with CAC severity. One of two studies reported an association with CAC progression, while the only study that assessed CAC incidence did not find a significant relationship. Several of the studies had small sample sizes, many did not adjust for confounders and the cut-off for low vitamin D was inconsistent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is insufficient evidence to support a consistent association between low vitamin D levels and CAC. Further high-quality studies are needed to examine serum 25-OH vitamin D in relation to subclinical coronary atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Center for Prevention and Wellness Research, Baptist Health Medical Group, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Rehan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.affiliation: Center for Prevention and Wellness Research, Baptist Health Medical Group, Miami, FL, USA. Electronic address: ehimena@baptisthealth.net.
authors.forename: Ehimen C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Aneni
authors.affiliation: Center for Prevention and Wellness Research, Baptist Health Medical Group, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roberson
authors.affiliation: Center for Prevention and Wellness Research, Baptist Health Medical Group, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Oluseye
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ogunmoroti
authors.affiliation: Center for Prevention and Wellness Research, Baptist Health Medical Group, Miami, FL, USA; University of Manchester School of Medicine, Manchester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Shozab S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Center for Prevention and Wellness Research, Baptist Health Medical Group, Miami, FL, USA; Aventura Hospital and Medical Center, Aventura, Florida.
authors.forename: Sameer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shaharyar
authors.affiliation: Center for Prevention and Wellness Research, Baptist Health Medical Group, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Younus
authors.affiliation: Center for Prevention and Wellness Research, Baptist Health Medical Group, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jamal
authors.affiliation: Center for Prevention and Wellness Research, Baptist Health Medical Group, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Muhammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.affiliation: Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Seth S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Blaha
authors.affiliation: Center for Prevention and Wellness Research, Baptist Health Medical Group, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.affiliation: Center for Prevention and Wellness Research, Baptist Health Medical Group, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Arthur S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Agatston
authors.affiliation: Center for Prevention and Wellness Research, Baptist Health Medical Group, Miami, FL, USA; Robert Stempel College of Public Health, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Emir
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Veledar
authors.affiliation: Center for Prevention and Wellness Research, Baptist Health Medical Group, Miami, FL, USA; Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Robert Stempel College of Public Health, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA; Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Khurram
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nasir
mesh_terms: D002114:Calcinosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D015995:Prevalence; D012107:Research Design; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Coronary artery calcification; Serum vitamin D