New implications for vitamin D

This article evaluated the implications of vitamin D status in patients with acute myocardial infarction or AMI (heart attack).

Vitamin D has long been valued for its role in building strong bones. Vitamin D mediates its biological effects by binding to the vitamin D receptor (VDR). The VDR appears to be widely distributed in tissues, including the heart and blood vessels. For this reason, it is believed that vitamin D has implications in the process of hypertension (high blood pressure), cardiac hypertrophy (enlargement of the heart muscle) and increased risk of thrombosis (the tendency of forming blood clots). Recent studies reported that vitamin D deficiency seems to be associated with higher mortality and incidence of cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to assess the association between vitamin D blood levels and AMI. 

This study included 1259 patients diagnosed with AMI. Their vitamin D status was evaluated. The majority of AMI patients (almost 74%) were vitamin D deficient (values under 20 ng/ml are considered deficient and under 30 ng/ml are mildly deficient). Of these, 36.3% of patients had severe deficiency (values of less than 10 ng/ml).

During follow up, 11.3% patients had died, 8.8% were readmitted with heart failure or HF (the inability of the heart to pump enough blood into the body) and 11.7% suffered another heart attack or re-infarction (re-AMI). A total of 320 (25.8%) major adverse cardiovascular events or MACE (which include heart attack, stroke or sudden death) and 224 (18.0%) non-fatal major adverse cardiovascular events (including HF and re-AMI) were reported. Low levels of 25-(OH) D3 (the active form of the vitamin D) were associated with MACE following AMI, but further analysis reported an association with non-fatal MACE (including HF and re-AMI), rather than death.

In summary, vitamin D status is a good predictive factor for MACE. This study showed that levels of 25-(OH) D3 above 7.3 ng/ml may reduce the risk of MACE following AMI by approximately 40%. 

Reported results from this study were based on a single population and will need to be verified in lager cohorts.

Visit your doctor to check your vitamin D status and ask which protective measures are indicated in your situation.