Vitamin D and cardiovascular disease: epidemiological aspects
Guessous, I.; Bochud, M.
Revue Medicale Suisse 8(360): 2059-2060; 2062-2065
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 1660-9379 PMID: 23185927 Document Number: 659852
The quasi-ubiquitous distribution of vitamin D receptors in the human tissues and the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency worldwide have generated much enthusiasm about the opportunity of cardiovascular disease prevention through vitamin D supplementation. However, reported associations between vitamin D and cardiovascular disease present important limitations and are prone to confounding and reverse causation. Results from ongoing randomized clinical trials testing the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation to reduce cardiovascular events will not be available before year 2015. This article reviews the epidemiology of vitamin D and provides a brief overview on the relationship between vitamin D and cardiovascular disease.