Vitamin D belongs to the family of nuclear steroid hormones, which has pleiotropic effects on several organ systems. Different
vitamin D compounds have been studied as potential cardioprotective agents over the past 20 years. The results of these clinical
studies vary based on the form and dosage of vitamin D administered during the trial. In the past 5 years, many have described
an association of vitamin D compounds and cardiovascular health through reduction in blood pressure, reduction in inflammatory
biomarkers, improved insulin sensitivity, and reduction in cardiovascular disease complications and death. Because there are
several vitamin D compounds, it is important to consider the full breadth of the literature when examining vitamin D and cardiovascular
health, to assist in hypothesis generation and understanding of the current state of the science. Although a growing body
of evidence suggests that nutritional vitamin D supplementation and potentially even treatment with synthetic analogues of
vitamin D may be cardioprotective, relatively few studies have examined either of these compounds in a randomized, controlled
fashion. Studies examining the benefit of vitamin D supplementation are now beginning, but future studies considering calcitriol
and analogue therapy also seem warranted.
Keywords Hypertension – Blood pressure – Clinical trials – 25(OH)D – Inflammation – Cholecalciferol – Ergocalciferol – Vitamin D deficiency