[Effects of vitamin D on the cardiovascular system].

Active vitamin D plays important roles not only in bone and mineral metabolism but also in the cardiovascular system. Cohort studies in hemodialysis patients demonstrated that use of active vitamin D analogs was associated with reduced risk of death, particularly death from cardiovascular disease. Treatment with vitamin D had beneficial effects on cardiac and immune functions in dialysis patients, and inflammatory markers in non-renal subjects. Also, anti-proteinuric effect was recently shown in chronic kidney disease. Experimentally, active vitamin D inhibits atherogenic cellular behaviors and activation of the renin-angiotensin system. Thus, active vitamin D is a regulator of cardiovascular and kidney functions.