4.7 Review

Vitamin D in Vascular Calcification: A Double-Edged Sword?

Journal

NUTRIENTS
Volume 10, Issue 5, Pages -

Publisher

MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/nu10050652

Keywords

vascular calcification; osteogenic differentiation; calcium; phosphate; vitamin D; hypervitaminosis; hypovitaminosis; biphasic

Funding

  1. Westmead Medical Research Foundation
  2. Australian Government Research Training Program scholarship/University of Sydney Postgraduate Awards
  3. Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
  4. Cellmid Limited
  5. Jacquot Research Establishment Grant (Royal Australasian College of Physicians)

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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. Recent evidence suggests that traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as left ventricular hypertrophy and dyslipidaemia, fail to account for clinical observations of vascular calcification. Therefore, more complex underlying processes involving physiochemical changes to mineral balance, vascular remodelling and perturbed hormonal responses such as parathyroid hormone (PTH) and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) are likely to contribute to VC. In particular, VC resulting from modifications to calcium, phosphate and vitamin D homeostasis has been recently elucidated. Notably, deregulation of vitamin D metabolism, dietary calcium intake and renal mineral handling are associated with imbalances in systemic calcium and phosphate levels and endothelial cell dysfunction, which can modulate both bone and soft tissue calcification. This review addresses the current understanding of VC pathophysiology, with a focus on the pathogenic role of vitamin D that has provided new insights into the mechanisms of VC.

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