If you’re here, then you probably Google’d: vitamin d calcification.
Abstract
Vascular calcification (VC) as a manifestation of perturbed mineral balance, is associated with aging, diabetes and kidney dysfunction, as well as poorer patient outcomes. Due to the current limited understanding of the pathophysiology of vascular calcification, the development of effective preventative and therapeutic strategies remains a significant clinical challenge.
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The effects of vitamin D excess and deficiency on vascular calcification are reviewed in this article.
Vitamin D excess, however, is rarely seen in the general human population. In uremic rats, low levels of the vitamin D hormone calcitriol are associated with massive vascular and soft tissue calcifications. Whereas retrospective studies already indicate a beneficial effect of active vitamin D on mortality rates in chronic kidney disease, little is yet known about the effect of vitamin D deficiency on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the general population.
Summary: Available data indicate that vitamin D exerts a biphasic ‘dose response’ curve on vascular calcification with deleterious consequences not only of vitamin D excess but also of vitamin D deficienc.
Molecular Aspects Of Medicine
The development of VC is an active process that requires a pre-existing injury as an inducer and promoting factors such as hyperphosphatemia and hypercalcemia, as well as a deficiency in calcification repressor factors. Vascular smooth muscle cells possess an endogenous enzyme system for the biosynthesis of the vitamin D hormone calcitriol from its precursor 25-hydroxyvitamin D and also a cytosolic calcitriol receptor, indicating that the vasculature is an important target tissue for vitamin D. The toxic effects of supra-physiological vitamin D dosages on the vasculature have been known for several decades.
This review article summarises the molecular basis of protective and toxic vitamin D actions on the vasculature. Chronic kidney disease can be considered as a human model of severe VC and poor survival. Evidence is increasing that phosphate overload plays a key role in the process of VC in chronic kidney disease.
Although less severe than in chronic kidney disease, vitamin D deficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism are also frequent in the general population, especially in elderly and obese subjects.
What Are Vitamins D And K?
Vitamin D and vitamin K are essential, fat-soluble nutrients. Vitamin K is found in leafy greens, fermented legumes and vegetables, as well as in some fatty, animal-sourced foods, such as egg yolk, liver and cheese.
It’s necessary for blood clotting and promotes the accumulation of calcium in your bones and teeth. Summary: Vitamins D and K are fat-soluble nutrients that play an essential role in your body’s calcium metabolism.