Vitamin D is an important pro-hormone for optimal intestinal calcium absorption for mineralization of the bones. Presence of vitamin D receptor (VDR) in various tissues have generated interest in evaluating other potential functions of vitamin D, particularly in cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Vitamin D deficiency has been characterized as a public health problem as low concentrations of this vitamin have been linked to the pathogenesis of several chronic diseases.
Several studies have suggested that vitamin D is involved in the pathogenesis of CVD. It may be involved in regulation of gene expression through the presence of VDR in various cells, regulation of blood pressure (through renin-angiotensin system), and modulation of cell growth and proliferation; including vascular smooth muscle cells and cardiomyocytes. In the light of above, is vitamin D deficiency actually an emerging risk…
