Cardiovascular benefits of vitamin D

Sheng Li Xue Bao. 2014 Feb 25;66(1):30-6.

Abstract

Vitamin D is essential for maintaining calcium and phosphate homeostasis, and vitamin D analogues have been prescribed to treat osteoporosis and hyperparathyroidism. Emerging evidence suggests that cardiovascular and chronic kidney diseases are closely associated with vitamin D deficiency resulting from either decreased sunshine exposure or inadequate intake. Vitamin D is through stimulating vitamin D receptor to form a transcriptional complex with cofactors to modulate approximately 3% gene transcription. For example, renin, matrix metalloprotease, and tumor necrosis factor-α are regulated by vitamin D. Both experimental and clinical studies support the health benefits of vitamin D in the cardiovascular system, and such benefits include protecting cardiac function, lowering blood pressure, improving endothelial function, inhibiting oxidative stress, and reducing the activity of renin-angiotensin system. This article will briefly review the cardiovascular benefits of vitamin D and its bioactive analogues and discuss the novel cellular and molecular mechanisms accounting for cardiovascular protection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Blood Pressure
  • Calcium / physiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / physiopathology
  • Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Receptors, Calcitriol / physiology
  • Renin-Angiotensin System
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives
  • Vitamin D / physiology*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / physiopathology

Substances

  • Receptors, Calcitriol
  • Vitamin D
  • Calcium