Vitamin D and its effects on cardiovascular diseases: a comprehensive review

• Published in: The Korean journal of internal medicine Vol. 31; no. 6; pp. 1018 - 1029
• Main Authors: Pérez-Hernández, Nonanzit, Aptilon-Duque, Gad, Nostroza-Hernández, María Cristina, Vargas-Alarcón, Gilberto, Rodríguez-Pérez, José Manuel, Blachman-Braun, Ruben
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Association of Internal Medicine 01.11.2016; 대한내과학회
• Subjects: Animals; Cardiovascular Diseases - drug therapy; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - metabolism; Cardiovascular Diseases - physiopathology; Cardiovascular System - metabolism; Cardiovascular System - physiopathology; Dietary Supplements; Humans; Prognosis; Review; Risk Factors; Signal Transduction; Vitamin D - metabolism; Vitamin D - therapeutic use; Vitamin D Deficiency - epidemiology; Vitamin D Deficiency - metabolism; Vitamin D Deficiency - physiopathology; 내과학; Cardiovascular system; Vitamin D; Metabolic networks and pathways
• ISSN: 1226-3303; 2005-6648
• DOI: 10.3904/kjim.2015.224

Vitamin D is a molecule that is actively involved in multiple metabolic pathways. It is mostly known for its implications related to calcium metabolism. It has also been determined that it actively participates in the cardiovascular system, influencing blood pressure, coronary artery disease and other vascular diseases, such as heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Furthermore, it has been established that this vitamin is extensively involved in the regulation of both the renin angiotensin aldosterone system and the immune system. In this review, we present the different vitamin D metabolic pathways associated with the cardiovascular pathophysiology, and we include studies in animal and human models, as well as some of the controversies found in the literature. This review also incorporates an overview of the implications in the molecular biology and public health fields.