Effects of Vitamin D on Blood Pressure and Endothelial Function.
10.4196/kjpp.2013.17.5.385
- Author:
Bokyung MIN
1
Author Information
1. College of Pharmacy, Catholic University of Daegu, Gyeongsan 712-702, Korea. bmin0@cu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
25-hydroxyvitamin D;
Blood pressure;
Calcitriol;
Endothelial dysfunction;
Vitamin D
- MeSH:
Blood Pressure*;
Calcitriol;
Cardiovascular Diseases;
Diet;
Homeostasis;
Humans;
Hypertension;
Incidence;
Life Style;
Receptors, Calcitriol;
Renin-Angiotensin System;
Risk Factors;
Solar System;
Vitamin D Deficiency;
Vitamin D*;
Vitamins
- From:The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
2013;17(5):385-392
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent, primarily due to limited sun exposure, which may be observed in urban areas, or as a result of modern lifestyles. Common myths about vitamin D persist, including that it is mostly obtained from the diet and is only essential for bone and mineral homeostasis. Nonetheless, advances in biomedical science suggest that vitamin D is a hormone that is integral to numerous physiologic functions in most cells and tissues. Therefore, abnormal vitamin D levels may contribute to health disturbances. A number of recent reports on potential associations between vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular disease have highlighted its role in this system. A focus over the previous decade has been to better understand the mechanisms behind vitamin D regulation and the pathophysiology associated with suboptimal vitamin D levels. Vitamin D deficiency is highly associated with the incidence of cardiovascular diseases, even when considering other well-known risk factors. In this process, the renin-angiotensin system is disrupted, and hypertension and endothelial dysfunction contribute to the risk of cardiovascular disease. Likewise, clinical outcomes upon the normalization of vitamin D levels have been investigated in different patient populations. It makes sense that vitamin D supplementation to improve vitamin D status among vitamin D-deficient individuals could be useful without requiring a sudden lifestyle change. This manuscript provides a brief overview of vitamin D metabolism and the vitamin D receptor. It also summarizes the current clinical research relating to vitamin D supplementation and its effects on hypertension and endothelial dysfunction in cardiovascular medicine.
