Suboptimal vitamin D levels were associated with excess 8-year all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.
An estimated 50% to 60% of older people have suboptimal vitamin D levels, which is a problem that could affect more than bone health. Recent cross-sectional studies have also shown an association between low vitamin D levels and cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome. In a long-term prospective study from Germany, researchers assessed whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels were associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among more than 3000 consecutive patients (mean age, 62) referred for coronary angiography.
During a mean follow-up of 7.7 years, 23% of the patients died (63% of deaths were secondary to cardiovascular causes). After controlling for multiple potential confounders including body-mass index, physical exercise level, and traditional cardiac risk factors, researchers calculated that hazard ratios for all-cause mortality in the lowest quartiles of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels were 2.08 and 1.61, respectively, relative to those in the highest quartiles. Similar hazard ratios were associated with low 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels and excess cardiovascular mortality.
Comment: In this prospective study, researchers found that lower levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D were associated with excess all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Although a causal relation has not been defined, inflammation, oxidative burden, and cell adhesion all might play roles.
— Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH
Published in Journal Watch General Medicine July 23, 2008
Dobnig H et al. Independent association of low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Arch Intern Med 2008 Jun 23; 168:1340.