Vitamin D and cardiovascular disease risk. A literature overview

Background Atherosclerosis and cerebro and cardiovascular disease associated represent the major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recently, vitamin D deficiency has been considered a new potential risk factor of these conditions. Methods and Results In this reviw we briefly describe the biological role of vitamin D, analyze the pathophysiological associations between cardiovascular disease and vitamin D, summarize and synthesize the evidence from literature about the association between vitamin D and cardiovascular disease. Results Vit D is an essential vitamin for bone metabolism and homeostasis. The maintenance of optimal blood levels contributes to the correct homeostasis by influencing different metabolic processes, including those underlying cardiovascular diseases. However, the evidence does not support vitamin D routine administration for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease and intake to achieve specific cardiovascular effects. Evidence shows that maintaining optimal levels of vitamin D, ensures cardiovascular protection.