Korean J Physiol Pharmacol.  2013 Oct;17(5):385-392. 10.4196/kjpp.2013.17.5.385.

Effects of Vitamin D on Blood Pressure and Endothelial Function

• Min B

• KMID: 1500232
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4196/kjpp.2013.17.5.385

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.

Keyword

25-hydroxyvitamin D; Blood pressure; Calcitriol; Endothelial dysfunction; Vitamin D

MeSH Terms

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
Calcitriol
Receptors, Calcitriol
Vitamin D
Vitamins

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Interactions between vitamin D receptor and retinoid X receptors inducing vitamin D response elements. Adapted from reference 17.

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  Fig. 2 A proposed mechanism of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on reninexpression [Adapted from reference 28].

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