Cardiometabolic Impact of Vitamin D Deficiency as a Determinant of Coronary Artery Disease: A Review
Md. Maruf-Ur-Rahman1,2*¶, Md. Rafiqul Islam2*¶, Wazeda Begum3, Md. Fakhrul Islam Khaled4
¶equal author contribution
Integrative Biomedical Research 9 (1) 1-10 https://doi.org/10.25163/biomedical.9110438
Submitted: 31 August 2025 Revised: 04 November 2025 Accepted: 11 November 2025 Published: 12 November 2025
Abstract
The worldwide death along with disabilities continues to be dominated by coronary pathway disease (CAD). Scientists discovered vitamin D deficiency (VDD) as a new risk factor for cardiovascular diseases during the last few years. Nearly one billion people suffer from VDD worldwide, including a large proportion of the Bangladeshi population, particularly among women and low-income groups. Multiple cultural elements together with inadequate nutrition create vitamin D deficiency which affects people even though they have access to sunlight. The presence of both high CAD incidence and VDD cases in Bangladesh indicates a potential connection which needs additional research. The narrative review presents findings from studies which examined serum vitamin D levels and CAD between 2000 and 2024. The research gathered information from epidemiological and clinical and mechanistic studies which mainly focused on South Asian populations. The study reviewed all available research about vitamin D metabolism and cardiovascular function and angiographically confirmed CAD cases. Studies consistently demonstrate that higher levels of serum 25(OH)D led to decreased chances of developing CAD. Low vitamin D levels in the body have been connected to endothelial dysfunction and inflammation and arterial calcification and renin-angiotensin system activation. Research through experiments demonstrates that taking vitamin D supplements leads to reduced vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis by blocking NF-κB pathways and improving endothelial function. The high number of cases for both conditions in Bangladesh demands additional extensive research to determine cause-and-effect relationships and evaluate vitamin D supplementation effects on heart health.
Keywords: Vitamin D deficiency, Coronary artery disease, Myocardial infarction, Atherosclerosis, Cardiometabolic Impact
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