Vitamin D Deficiency and Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease

Italian researchers presented a paper this week at the American College of Cardiology that showed a link between low levels of Vitamin D and coronary artery disease.

Dr. Irving Loh, a specialist who contributes to our Sermo Cardiology Hub discussed the breaking news inside Sermo. The researchers looked at approximately 1,500 angiographic studies which revealed that low levels of Vitamin D is associated with a greater incidence and more severe degree of obstructive coronary disease.

According to Dr. Loh,

Low vitamin D levels are very common in adults, usually as a result of decreased exposure to sunlight. It has been estimated that vitamin D deficiency may be seen in as many as 30 to 50 percent of adults in developed countries … low levels of vitamin D have been associated with left ventricular hypertrophy, endothelial dysfunction and activation of the renin-angiotensin system. But causality reminds speculative.

Recently the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) published new guidelines that concluded “there is no compelling evidence that vitamins or supplements were of benefit for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (and cancer).”

About 49% of Americans, as of 2010, were taking at least one supplement and the total U.S. supplement industry is estimated at $28.1 billion.

As Dr. Loh points out, “If observational and epidemiologic evidence suggests an inverse relationship between levels and incidence, we should remember that low levels associated with disease do not automatically translate into supplementation reversing risk.”

As a physician, will this study change your recommendations to patients? Do you believe in supplements in certain cases? We will be discussing this in detail inside Sermo on our Cardiology Hub, come join the conversation.

References

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