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People with low vitamin D levels may face an increased risk for peripheral artery disease (PAD), according to researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. The scientists reported their findings at the American Heart Association’s Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Annual Conference 2008.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD)is a common disease that occurs when the arteries of the legs or arms become narrowed by plaques or cholesterol and calcium deposits. PAD causes poor blood flow and that leads to pain and loss of sensation. The ability to walk is often diminished. PAD affects eight million Americans and indicates significant disease. It is associated with arterial disease in the heart and brain.

People get vitamin D by making some in their skin (by exposure to natural light), their diet such as fish and some dairy products that have added vitamin D, and by taking vitamin pills. Vitamin D is necessary for healthy bones. I addition t bone health, we are learning that vitamin D is connected to cardiovascular health.

In mice, vitamin D controls one of the hormone systems that regulates blood pressure. The cells in the blood vessels contain receptors for vitamin D. Researchers sought to learn whether vitamin D levels could influence Peripheral artery disease. Researchers looked at data from a national survey measuring vitamin D levels in the blood of over four thousand adults. They measured arterial blood flow using the ankle-brachial index, a screening tool for Peripheral artery disease that measures blood flow to the legs. They also measured were other risk factors for Peripheral artery disease such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Higher levels of vitamin D were associated with a less Peripheral artery disease. Patients with the highest vitamin D levels had the lowest incidence of Peripheral artery disease. Those with the lowest vitamin D levels had more than twice the incidence of Peripheral artery disease.

Peripheral artery disease was 64 percent more common in the group with the lowest vitamin D levels compared with the group with the highest levels. For each 10 ng/mL drop in vitamin D level, the risk for Peripheral artery disease went up 29 percent.

It’s possible that vitamin D levels are a marker for other healthy practices like eating a healthy diet. Proving a cause and effect relationship between vitamin D and protection against Peripheral artery disease requires a large randomized trial in which some people get vitamin D and others do not.

There is relatively low risk in taking a small amount of vitamin D, however large amounts can be toxic so caution is advised. Pay attention to recommended daily allowances of the vitamins listed on the bottle as a guide.

www.aecom.yu.edu
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-04/aeco-erf041508.php