Vitamin D deficiency could increase risk of diabetes related coronary heart disease
Researchers from Creighton University School of Medicine have linked vitamin D deficiency with the development and progression of coronary artery disease (CAD), a common serious diabetes complication.
The study, conducted in collaboration with the American Heart Association and published in the Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology journal, looked at the role of vitamin D in CAD through markers of chronic inflammation in epicardial adipose tissue (EAT).
A previous study already found that the inflammatory effects of vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in young people with type 1 diabetes.
Here, research scientists at the Department of Clinical and Translational Science identified that an elevation in the levels of a nuclear protein could be a possible mechanistic link behind vitamin D deficiency-enhanced inflammation in EAT.
The research team noticed that - the biologically active form of vitamin D - 1.25-dihydroxyvitamin D dictates NF-kB expression in the EAT of diseased coronary arteries.
Low Vitamin D May Increase Risk of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the buildup of extra fat in the liver that isn’t caused by alcohol abuse. Up to 25% of individuals in the United States are affected by NAFLD. Risk factors include being overweight or obese; having diabetes, high cholesterol, or high triglycerides; experiencing rapid weight loss; and having poor eating habits. However, patients can also develop NAFLD without these risk factors.
NAFLD is often a silent, asymptomatic disease. If left undiagnosed, this condition can lead to further complications, such as steatohepatitis and cirrhosis. There’s no approved treatment for NAFLD. with the exception of a healthy diet and regular exercise.
The journalMedicinerecently published a cross-sectional study that shows a relationship between patients with NAFLD and levels of vitamin D and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in men and postmenopausal women. The researchers investigated the documented role of SHBG in metabolic diseases alone and in relation to vitamin D levels.