title: Vitamin D and cardiovascular disease prevention.
abstract: Vitamin D is a precursor of the steroid hormone calcitriol that is crucial for bone and mineral metabolism. Both the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the general population and the identification of the vitamin D receptor in the heart and blood vessels raised interest in the potential cardiovascular effects of vitamin D. Experimental studies have demonstrated various cardiovascular protective actions of vitamin D, but vitamin D intoxication in animals is known to induce vascular calcification. In meta-analyses of epidemiological studies, vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. Findings from Mendelian randomization studies and randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) do not indicate significant effects of a general vitamin D supplementation on cardiovascular outcomes. Previous RCTs, however, were not adequately designed to address extraskeletal events, and did not focus on vitamin D-deficient individuals. Therefore, currently available evidence does not support cardiovascular benefits or harms of vitamin D supplementation with the commonly used doses, and whether vitamin D has cardiovascular effects in individuals with overt vitamin D deficiency remains to be evaluated. Here, we provide an update on clinical studies on vitamin D and cardiovascular risk, discuss ongoing vitamin D research, and consider the management of vitamin D deficiency from a cardiovascular health perspective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, 8036 Graz, Austria.|Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pilz
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, 8036 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Verheyen
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, 8036 Graz, Austria.|Swiss Cardiovascular Center Bern, Department of Cardiology, Bern University Hospital, Freiburgstrasse 8, 3010 Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Martin R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Grübler
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, 8036 Graz, Austria.|Specialist Clinic of Rehabilitation PV Bad Aussee, Braungasse 354, 8990 Bad Aussee, Austria.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tomaschitz
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, 8036 Graz, Austria.|Medical Clinic V (Nephrology, Hypertensiology, Endocrinology, Diabetology, Rheumatology), Mannheim Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Theodor Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany.|Synlab Academy, Synlab Holding Deutschland GmbH Augsburg, Gottlieb Daimler Strasse 25, 68165 Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Winfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: März
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015897:Comorbidity; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D014807:Vitamin D