Vitamin D deficiency and coronary artery disease

Abstract

• BACKGROUND: Several factors such as hyperlipidemia, diabetes and hypertension have a determining role in cardiovascular disease. In recent years, the effect of vitamin D deficiency on cardiovascular disease has been emphasized. This study compares vitamin D deficiency in coronary heart disease patients with the control group.
•  METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol level was compared in 119 individuals including 57 people with confirmed coronary heart disease and 62 normal people. 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was assessed using standard protocol. The level of 25(OH)D under 20 ng/dl was determined as cutoff point.
• RESULTS: The calculated odds ratio was 3.9 (95% confidence interval  2.6-5.5). Comparison of vitamin D deficiency between patients and the control group was statistically significant difference (p = 0.01). Of 37 (31%) individuals having vitamin D deficiency 36 (97.3%) had coronary artery disease and from 57 patients with coronary artery disease 36 (63.2%) had vitamin D deficiency.
• CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency is a relatively common disorder. Risk of cardiovascular disease in people with vitamin D deficiency is almost four times of those with normal levels of vitamin D. To confirm the casual relationship between vitamin D and cardiovascular disease clinical trial studies are suggested.
• KEYWORDS: Coronary Artery Disease, Cardiovascular Disease, Vitamin D Deficiency