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(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2005;25:39.)
© 2005 American Heart Association, Inc.

Brief Reviews

Vitamin D, Shedding Light on the Development of Disease in Peripheral Arteries

P.E. Norman; J.T. Powell

From the School of Surgery and Pathology (P.E.N.), The University of Western Australia, Fremantle Hospital, Fremantle, Western Australia; and the Division of Surgery (J.T.P.), Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Imperial College, London, UK.

Correspondence to Jane Powell, Department of Vascular Surgery, Imperial College at Charing Cross, St Dunstan’s Road, London, W6 8RP, UK. E-mail j.powell{at}imperial.ac.uk

Vitamin D is generally associated with calcium metabolism, especially in the context of uptake in the intestine and the formation and maintenance of bone. However, vitamin D influences a wide range of metabolic systems through both genomic and nongenomic pathways that have an impact on the properties of peripheral arteries. The genomic effects have wide importance for angiogenesis, elastogenesis, and immunomodulation; the nongenomic effects have mainly been observed in the presence of hypertension. Although some vitamin D is essential for cardiovascular health, excess may have detrimental effects, particularly on elastogenesis and inflammation of the arterial wall. Vitamin D is likely to have a role in the paradoxical association between arterial calcification and osteoporosis. This review explores the relationship between vitamin D and a range of physiological and pathological processes relevant to peripheral arteries.

Vitamin D influences a wide range of metabolic systems through both genomic and nongenomic pathways that have an impact on the properties of peripheral arteries. Although some vitamin D is essential for cardiovascular health, excess may have detrimental effects, including calcification, inflammation, and impaired elastogenesis in the arterial wall.

Key Words: vitamin D • peripheral artery disease • aortic aneurysm • vascular smooth muscle cell

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