Vitamin D Levels Predict All-Cause and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in Subjects

With the Metabolic Syndrome

Featured Article:

G. Neil Thomas, Ph.D., Bríain Ó Hartaigh, M.Phil, Jos A. Bosch, Ph.D., Stefan Pilz, M.D., Adrian Loerbroks, Ph.D., Marcus E. Kleber, Ph.D., Joachim E. Fischer,

M.D., Tanja B. Grammer, M.D., Bernhard O. Böhm, M.D., Winfried März, M.D.

Diabetes Care Volume 35: 1158-1164

May, 2012

Study Objectives

• Optimal vitamin D levels are associated with reduced cardiovascular and all cause mortality

• Study investigated whether optimal 25-hydroxyvitamin D is protective in individuals with the metabolic syndrome

Thomas G et al. Diabetes Care 2012;35:1158-1164

Study Design

• 1801 persons with metabolic syndrome in The Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health (LURIC) study of subjects referred for coronary angiography between 1997 and 2000

• Mortality tracked for a median of 7.7 years • Multivariable survival analysis used to estimate the

association between 25(OH)D levels and mortality

Thomas G et al. Diabetes Care 2012;35:1158-1164

Thomas G et al. Diabetes Care 2012;35:1158-1164

Thomas G et al. Diabetes Care 2012;35:1158-1164

Thomas G et al. Diabetes Care 2012;35:1158-1164

Conclusions

• Optimal 25(OH)D levels substantially lowered all-cause and CVD mortality in subjects with the metabolic syndrome

• These observations call for interventional studies that test whether vitamin D supplementation provides a useful adjunct in reducing mortality in these subjects

Thomas G et al. Diabetes Care 2012;35:1158-1164