Effects of vitamin D supplementation as an adjuvant therapy in coronary artery disease patients.

OBJECTIVES

Low vitamin D status has been shown to be associated with coronary artery disease. We planned to research the effects of vitamin D3 supplementation on the severity of coronary artery disease.

DESIGN

We investigated the effect of 0.5 μg vitamin D3 per day in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study in 90 stable coronary artery disease patients residing in Beijing. Coronary angiography was performed before and after 6 months of treatment that took place between January and June. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D was measured by chemiluminescence assay. Coronary artery disease severity was assessed by using the SYNTAX scores.

RESULTS

In vitamin D supplementation group, there was a significant increase in mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels from baseline (19.9 ± 9.8 ng/ml) to 6 months (35.8 ± 12.1 ng/ml; p < 0.001). At 6 months, the primary end point, a difference in the fall of SYNTAX score between the groups was -2.5 (95% CI -5.1 to -0.5; p < 0.001) under intention to treat analysis. Compared with the control group, patients treated with vitamin D3 also had greater decreases in high sensitivity C-reactive protein and renin-angiotensin system activity (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin D supplementation has beneficial effects on coronary artery disease; it can be an adjuvant therapy for patients with coronary artery disease.