O Papel da Vitamina D na Insuficiência Cardíaca The Role of Vitamin D in Heart Failure

Vitamin D, more specifically 1,25-dihydroxyvitaminD (1,25[OH]2D) or calcitriol, has been linked to cardiovascular disease, and seems to be closely associated with the pathophysiology of heart failure (HF) in this context. Many studies demonstrate that calcitriol deficiency and/or the alterations this causes in the parathyroid hormone (PTH) blood levels activate the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), modulating the immune system, regulating protein kinase C causing myofibrillar hypertrophy and cardiomyocyte apoptosis, resulting in arrhythmias, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. This paper thus reviews vitamin D, its metabolism and relationship to PTH, calcium and phosphorus as factors that intervene in this status, the influence of such deficiencies in HF and the possible benefits of their supplementation in HF.