Abstract MP22: Vitamin D and Subclinical Cerebrovascular Disease: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Brain MRI Ancillary Study

Abstract

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with incident clinical stroke. Less is known about the association of vitamin D levels, measured by 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], with subclinical cerebrovascular disease. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that lower levels of 25(OH)D would be associated both cross-sectionally and longitudinally with subclinical cerebrovascular disease, defined by white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) and infarcts on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: We conducted cross-sectional (1993-1995) and longitudinal (1993-1995 to 2004-2006) analyses of 1,622 participants in the ARIC Brain Ancillary Study with measured 25(OH)D (1993-1995) and without a history of clinical stroke/TIA. These participants underwent a brain MRI in 1993-1995 and a subset underwent a second brain MRI in 2004-2006 (n=888). 25(OH)D measurement was repeated in a subset of blacks in 2004-2006 (n=404). 25(OH)D was analyzed in race-specific quartiles and continuously. Brain MRIs were scored for WMHs and infarcts. Adjusted race-stratified linear and logistic regression models were used. Results: Mean age of participants was 62 years, 60% were female, and 49% were black. Mean 25(OH)D was higher in whites than blacks (25.6 versus 17.3 ng/ml, p0.05). In prospective analyses, lower 25(OH)D levels were also not significantly associated with change in WMH volume or with incident infarcts (Table). In the subset of blacks with repeated measures of 25(OH)D, there was no association between change in 25(OH)D levels with incident infarcts on brain MRI over 10 years (OR [per 1 SD decrease in 25(OH)D]: 1.30, 95% CI: 0.94, 1.81). Conclusion: 25(OH)D was not significantly associated with WMHs, subclinical infarcts, or their progression on serial brain MRIs obtained approximately 10 years apart, suggesting that 25(OH)D levels are not associated with subclinical cerebrovascular disease.