Insights on vitamin D's role in cardiovascular disease: investigating the association of 25-hydroxyvitamin D with the dimethylated arginines.

Accumulating evidence has stipulated a strong correlation between vitamin D (vitD) deficiency and cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, a mechanistic link is missing. This study investigated the association of vitD with endothelial dysfunction parameters. Subjects comprised male patients with verified coronary artery disease (CAD) (n=69) and age- and sex-matched controls (n=20). 25-Hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was determined using high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection whereas asymmetric and symmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA and SDMA, respectively) were determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Nitric oxide (NO) was determined spectrophotometrically and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Comparison of mean 25(OH)D concentrations of patients and controls yielded a significant result (p=0.0002). 25(OH)D2 was dominant in patients whereas 25(OH)D3 was dominant in controls (p=0.003 and 0.001, respectively). Comparison of mean ADMA and SDMA concentrations of patients exhibiting normal and suboptimal vitD yielded insignificant results (p=0.692 and 0.998, respectively). Significant results were obtained from the comparison of mean hs-CRP and NO concentrations of patients exhibiting normal and suboptimal vitD (p=0.035 and 0.031, respectively). Results suggest involvement of vitD with the NO system, however not via modulation of the dimethylated arginines. A potential anti-inflammatory activity for vitD is also raised.