Vitamin D insufficiency and inflammation in older adults tied to CVD risk: Study
Brazil: The presence of inflammation and low concentrations of vitamin D is linked to a high risk for cardiovascular diseases in older adults, reveals a recent study published in Experimental Gerontology. Also, older adults with 25(OH)D insufficiency presented higher levels of fasting blood sugar.
Older adults with high hs-CRP concentration had a higher percentage of global risk for cardiovascular events over the next 10 years, the researchers reported. They also found a negative correlation between the biomarkers 25(OH) and hs-CRP.
The cross-sectional study was conducted by Nathalia Fidelis LinsVieira, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, and colleagues aimed to identify an association between serum levels of 25(OH) D, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease risk in older adults.
The study included older adults of both sexes. It investigated variables on anthropometric assessments (weight, height, waist circumference, BMI), lifestyle, and systemic arterial hypertension (systolic blood pressure, SBP, and diastolic blood pressure DBP), serum levels of 25(OH)D, serum high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), serum lipid profile and fasting blood glucose. Global risk for cardiovascular events, the Framingham criteria were used to assess cardiovascular disease risk.
The study led to the following findings:
- The sample consisted of 124 participants, 50.8% of whom were at high risk for cardiovascular events.
- Older adults with 25(OH)D insufficiency presented higher levels of blood sugar, LDL-c SBP, and hs-CRP.
- When grouped by serum concentrations hs-CRP, it was observed that higher hs-CRP levels were associated with higher blood glucose, SBP, and lower HDL-c concentrations.
- It was also observed that 25(OH)D insufficiency increased the chance of high risk for cardiovascular events by 2.8 times (OR = 2.80), which with high hs-CRP concentrations increased to 4.75 times (OR = 4.75).
The researchers conclude, "low concentrations of 25(OH)D and the presence of inflammation in older adults are associated with a high risk for cardiovascular diseases."
Reference:
Vieira, Nathalia Fidelis Lins, et al. "25-hydroxyvitamin D Insufficiency and Inflammation Increase Cardiovascular Risk in Older People." Experimental Gerontology, 2022, p. 111864.
