VITAMIN D AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK

A national survey designed to estimate the prevalence of common chronic conditions and associated risk factors was conducted in the US between 1988 and 1994 (NHANES III). It provided a database which is constantly mined for information about specific questions. A study based on this data was recently published which addresses the question of the association between vitamin D status and the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovas cu lar disease (CVD) using the vitamin D serum marker 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

Data for over 15,000 adult participants were available. When individuals with 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels less than 52 nmol/L were compared with those with levels equal to or greater than 92 nmol/L, it was found that those in the low-level group had significantly higher probabilities of have hypertension, abnormal blood glucose, history of diabetes, obesity, and high triglycerides. However, for two prominent risk factors, high total cholesterol or non-HDL cholesterol, no correlations were found.

The authors claim that to the best of their knowledge this is the first study to demonstrate significant association between low vitamin D status and CVD risk factors in a nationally representative International Health News November 2007 Page 7 sample.

In addition, they pointed out that favorable trends for the risk factors for obesity, diabetes and hypertension may well continue to increase at levels greater than 92 nmol/L conferring additional health benefits. In addition, their results were regarded as consistent with the established literature that suggests a role for vitamin D in promoting insulin sensitivity and preventing diabetes. They also present plausible biological mechanisms for some of the observed dependencies on vitamin D.

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