Vitamin D in Cardiovascular Disease

The article discusses the progress made in drug and biomarker discovery as well as the understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms in various diseases, including cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. The focus has shifted towards prevention rather than treatment, leading to a growing interest in the discovery of new biomarkers for early disease identification, which can improve therapeutic efficacy and overall survival.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Atherosclerosis, a low-grade inflammation of the vascular wall, underlies CVD. The deposition of lipids and subsequent accumulation of immune cells in response to endothelial injury contribute to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. Reactive oxygen species play a key role in this process by causing oxidation of lipids and promoting inflammation. Early detection and prevention of atherosclerotic plaques remain crucial, and numerous biomarkers have been developed for this purpose. While most biomarkers are cardiac muscle-related, there is growing interest in novel biomarkers that can detect CVD at earlier stages.

Vitamin D, mainly synthesized in the skin through sun exposure and obtained from diet and supplements, plays a crucial role in enhancing the absorption of calcium and phosphate. It acts as a hormone by binding to the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and regulating the expression of various genes. The cardiovascular system, including cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and vascular cells, abundantly expresses VDR. Studies suggest that vitamin D deficiency is associated with cardiovascular disorders, atherothrombosis progression, vascular calcification, and increased plaque instability. Low vitamin D levels have also been linked to traditional risk factors for CVD such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Clinical trials are needed to establish a clearer relationship between vitamin D levels and cardiovascular events.

In conclusion, vitamin D, through its interaction with VDR, exerts significant effects on various cellular components of the cardiovascular system. Further research and clinical trials are necessary to fully understand the relationship between vitamin D levels and cardiovascular events. The vitamin D/VDR system may hold therapeutic potential not only for CVD but also for other inflammatory diseases. The authors declare no competing interests in relation to this article.

Full Article:https://doi.org/10.21873/invivo.11338

Reference:

Nitsa, A., Toutouza, M., Machairas, N., Mariolis, A., Philippou, A., & Koutsilieris, M. (2018). Vitamin D in Cardiovascular Disease. In Vivo, 32(5), 977-981. https://doi.org/10.21873/invivo.11338