Association between vitamin D and vascular endothelial injury in hypertensive patients

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the association between vitamin D (VD) and vascular endothelial injury in hypertensive patients. Methods Ninety nine patients with hypertension and 126 healthy subjects (control group) from the same community in Nanjing were recruited in the study. The serum levels of fasting blood glucose (GLU), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) were measured. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OH-D) and nitric oxide (NO) levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The level of plasma endothelial microparticles was measured by flow cytometry. The data were statistically analyzed with SPSS version 19.0. Results The serum 25-(OH)-D[(55.22±11.92)nmol/L vs. (64.17±21.52) nmol/L, t=-3.71], vitamin D binding protein (VDBP)[(257.32±141.31) ng/ml vs. (314.21±124.13) ng/ml, t=-3.21], NO levels [(39.35±13.33) μmol/L vs. (43.42±11.83) μmol/L, t=-2.42]in hypertension group were significantly lower than those in control group. And the circulating endothelial cell particles(4.95±1.78 vs. 2.84±2.07, t=8.05)in hypertension group was significantly higher than that in control group. In hypertensive patients, the circulating endothelial cell particles in VD deficiency group was significantly higher than that in low VD group and normal VD group [(6.42±1.25)% vs. (4.6±1.68)%, (3.15±0.90)%, F=15.08]. And the serum NO level in VD deficiency group was significantly lower than that in other two groups[(36.57±10.52) μmol/L vs. (39.77±13.01) μmol/L, (46.26±25.90) mol/L, F=1.20]. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that low serum 25 (OH) D(B=-0.189, SE=0.033, β=0.509, t=-5.72)and gender (B=-0.682, SE=0.351, β=-0.182, t=-2.054)were the risk factors of vascular endothelial injury. Conclusion The serum vitamin D levels in hypertensive patients is decreased, and vitamin D deficiency may be a risk factor for endothelial injury in hypertension. Key words: Vitamin D; Hypertension; Vascular endothelial cells injury