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Study Identifies Vitamin D's Benefits
For Diabetic Heart Health
Vitamin
D may inhibit the build-up of cholesterol in blood
vessels, says a new
study that support calls for Vitamin D
supplements to improve heart
health of diabetics.
According to new findings published in Circulation,
diabetics -
a population group at higher risk of heart disease - with
low Vitamin D
levels displayed difficulties in processing cholesterol,
putting them at
an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
Vitamin
D inhibits the uptake of cholesterol by cells called
macrophages. When
people are deficient in Vitamin D, the macrophage
cells eat more
cholesterol, and they can't get rid of it. The macrophages
get clogged
with cholesterol and become what scientists call foam cells,
which are
one of the earliest markers of atherosclerosis.
Macrophage
activation is higher in people with disease such as diabetes,
and when
found in combination with low Vitamin D levels, the macrophages
become
loaded with cholesterol and eventually stiffen blood vessels and
block
blood flow.
Cholesterol is transported through the blood attached to lipoproteins such
as LDL, the 'bad' cholesterol. As
it is stimulated by oxygen radicals in the
vessel wall, LDL becomes
oxidated, and macrophages eat it uncontrollably.
LDL cholesterol then
clogs the macrophages, and that's how atherosclerosis
begins. And
the problem may be solved by simply ensuring adequate
Vitamin D status
via supplements, say researchers from Washington
University in St Louis.
There is debate about whether any amount of sun exposure is safe, so oral
Vitamin D supplements may work best.
In
adults, it is said Vitamin D deficiency may precipitate or exacerbate
osteopenia, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, fractures, common cancers,
autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases.
There is also some evidence that the vitamin may reduce the incidence
of
several types of cancer and type-1 diabetes.
The
researchers obtained macrophage cells from diabetics and non-diabetics,
with and without Vitamin D deficiency. When the cells were exposed
cells to
cholesterol and low vitamin D levels, they found that low
vitamin D levels in the
culture dish resulted in fewer macrophages
becoming foam cells.
On
the other hand, when the human macrophages were placed in a Vitamin
D-
rich environment, the uptake of cholesterol was suppressed, and they
don't
become foam cells, said the researchers.
The
researchers noted that it may be possible to delay or reverse the
development of atherosclerosis in diabetics by helping them regain
adequate
Vitamin D levels. The
next stage in the research is to look at Vitamin D-deficient
diabetics
who also high blood pressure. In future studies they'll learn whether
replacing Vitamin D will lower blood pressure and improve blood flow.
Diabetic Stats
In
the US, there are almost 24 million people with diabetes, equal to 8
per cent
of the population. The total costs are thought to be as much
as $174 billion, with
$116 billion being direct costs from medication,
according to 2005-2007
American Diabetes Association figures.
Source: Circulation
Volume 120, Number 8, Pages 687-698, doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.856070
"1,25
(OH) Vitamin D inhibits foam cell formation and suppresses macrophage
cholesterol uptake in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus"
Interested in Learning More About The
Heart Health Benefits of Vitamin D?
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