Association of Vitamin D and Endothelial Function in a Subsample of the Participants in the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-BRASIL)

Abstract

The Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-BRASIL) is a multicentric and multidisciplinary cohort study aimed at investigating the incidence and risk factors of chronic diseases. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with several comorbidities. In this context, the need to assess the impact of vitamin D on endothelial dysfunction in a large-scale study is justified. Thus, in this study, serum levels of vitamin D were determined by HPLC in 509 participants of the ELSA-BRASIL, and its association with endothelial function parameters by Peripheral Arterial Tonometry (BPA and PATratio). Reduced levels of vitamin D were shown to be associated with indicative measures of worse endothelial function. In the logistic regression model, the variables male sex, white color, increase in age, BMI, triglycerides, and vitamin D<30ng/mL were also indicative of worse endothelial function. In summary, vitamin D has presented an association with endothelial function, which may indicate a protective action of vitamin D to the vascular endothelium.