Cardiovascular benefits of vitamin D.
- Author:
Jinghui DONG
1
;
Chi Wai LAU
;
Siu Ling WONG
;
Yu HUANG
Author Information
1. Institute of Vascular Medicine, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, and Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. yu-huang@cuhk.edu.hk.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Blood Pressure;
Calcium;
physiology;
Cardiovascular Diseases;
physiopathology;
Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena;
Endothelium, Vascular;
physiology;
physiopathology;
Humans;
Oxidative Stress;
Receptors, Calcitriol;
physiology;
Renin-Angiotensin System;
Vitamin D;
analogs & derivatives;
physiology;
Vitamin D Deficiency;
physiopathology
- From:
Acta Physiologica Sinica
2014;66(1):30-36
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
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.
