Vitamin D Deficiency and Cardiovascular Diseases

In recent years, there are increasing evidences of epidemiology and clinic which indicate that vitamin D deficiency has relationship with cardiovascular disease. It was found the levels of vitamin D were negatively correlated with cardiovascular events such as hypertension, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and coronary heart disease. This article reviews the connection between cardiovascular diseases and vitamin D, and explains the underlying mechanisms including regulating renin-angiotensin system or endothelial function, inhibition of natriuretic peptide expression or the release of parathyroid hormone, effects on inflammation or obesity, bioenergetics, activation of extracellular Ca²⁺, inhibition of oxidative stress, and so on. These mechanisms provide novel strategy for the treatment of these cardiovascular diseases.