Cited by 94Vitamin D Research StudiesNutrition and Health StudiesNutritional Studies and Diet

Vitamin D, Calcium Supplements, and Implications for Cardiovascular Health

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Michos, Erin D., Cainzos-Achirica, Miguel, Heravi, Amir S., Appel, Lawrence J.·2021·Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Abstract

Vitamin D and calcium supplements are commonly used, often together, to optimize bone health. Multiple observational studies have linked low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations with increased cardiovascular risk. However, subsequent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) failed to demonstrate cardiovascular benefit with vitamin D supplementation. Although vitamin D supplements do not appear to be harmful for cardiovascular health, the lack of benefit in RCTs should discourage their use for this purpose, favoring optimizing vitamin D status through healthy lifestyles such as specific foods and modest sunlight exposure. Furthermore, some (but not all) observational and RCT studies of calcium supplementation have suggested potential for cardiovascular harm. Therefore, calcium supplementation should be used cautiously, striving for recommended intake of calcium predominantly from food sources. In this review, the authors examine the currently available evidence investigating whether vitamin D and calcium supplements are helpful, harmful, or neutral for cardiovascular health.

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  • Micronutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin D, n-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and phytochemicals benefit cardiometabolic health physiologically by eliminating free radicals and reducing inflammatory and platelet activity, while maintaining the homeostasis of endothelial cells and cardiac function.

    “Mechanistically, micronutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin D, n-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and phytochemicals benefit cardiometabolic health physiologically by eliminating free radicals and reducing inflammatory and platelet activity, while maintaining the homeostasis of endothelial cells and cardiac function.”

    From Micronutrient Supplementation to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk (2022) · cites this paper as [13]

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Zehnder D, Bland R, Chana RS, et al. Synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) by human endo- thelial cells is regulated by inflammatory cyto- kines: a novel autocrine determinant of vascular cell adhesion. J Am Soc Nephrol 2002;13:621-9.
  2. Committee to Review Dietary Reference In- takes for Vitamin D and Calcium, Food and Nutri- tion Board, Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2010.

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Authors
Michos, E. D., Cainzos-Achirica, M., Heravi, A. S., & Appel, L. J.
Affiliations
Johns Hopkins University (US)
Corresponding author
Michos, Erin D.
Venue
Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-02
Volume
77
Issue
4
Pages
437-449
ISSN
0735-1097 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3121735441
Cited by
94
References
97
Citations by year
2026: 18 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 14
FWCI
2.50
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of the American College of Cardiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Vitamin D Research Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutrition and Health Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
Keywords
vitamin D supplementation, calcium supplementation, cardiovascular risk, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, bone health, sun exposure, dietary calcium, randomized controlled trials, observational studies
MeSH terms
Calcium, Cardiovascular Diseases, Humans, Vitamin D, Vitamin D Deficiency, Dietary Supplements

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