Anna Deleskog and Claes-Goran Ostenson
Vitamin D deficiency is widely prevalent worldwide and is primarily caused by lack of ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from reduced sun exposure and the consequent limiting of vitamin D production in the skin. Epidemiological studies support the concept that vitamin D is involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). There are several lines of evidence for a number of potential mechanisms whereby vitamin D status may influence CVD risk. Vitamin D receptors (VDR) are known to be expressed in cells throughout the cardiovascular system. In addition, 1α-hydroxylase which converts 25-hydroxyvitamin D to calcitriol is produced in many cell types including vascular, smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes. However, as reported in this review previous observational and vitamin D supplemental studies have shown conflicting results regarding vitamin D and CVD.