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.