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. 2017 Oct 4:13:361-367.
doi: 10.2147/VHRM.S142721. eCollection 2017.

Evaluation of vitamin D levels in relation to coronary CT angiographic findings in an Iranian population

Maryam Moradi  1 , Ali Foroutanfar  1
Affiliations

Evaluation of vitamin D levels in relation to coronary CT angiographic findings in an Iranian population

Maryam Moradi et al. Vasc Health Risk Manag. .

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D deficiency, as a predisposing factor for coronary artery disease (CAD), is a subject of increasing interest. However, its role as a risk factor has not been proven. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and CAD.

Materials and methods: Using a cross-sectional design, 180 patients who were candidates for coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) were selected. Serum levels of vitamin D were measured and compared with the results of CCTA (including calcium score, and presence and severity of coronary artery involvement due to atherosclerotic plaques).

Results: The mean age of the participants was 60.5±10.6 years and the mean serum vitamin D level was 26.2±15.9 ng/dL (range, 3.5-83.2 ng/dL). Overall, 6.1% of the participants (n=11) had vitamin D deficiency, 56.1% (n=101) had insufficient levels of vitamin D, and 37.8% (n=68) had sufficient levels of vitamin D. The mean serum vitamin D level was significantly lower in patients with severe CAD (P=0.004). The serum vitamin D level in the "positive for CAD" group was 20.98 ng/mL, significantly lower than the level in the "negative for CAD" group (30.47 ng/mL; P<0.001). The mean calcium score among participants was 533.5±87.9. Based on the Spearman test, a significant negative correlation (-0.21) was detected between the serum vitamin D level and coronary artery calcium score (CACS) (P=0.005). Conversely, the mean CACS in the vitamin D deficient group was significantly higher than in the insufficient and sufficient vitamin D groups (P<0.001 for both comparisons).

Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency was associated with coronary artery calcification and severity of coronary artery stenosis in Iranian patients.

Keywords: angiography; atherosclerosis; coronary artery disease; multidetector computed tomography; vitamin D.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Spearman correlation between vitamin D levels in serum and the coronary artery calcium score.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean calcium score in different groups based on vitamin D level.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean vitamin D levels in different coronary artery disease groups.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Median 25th and 75th percentile of vitamin D in different coronary artery disease groups.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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