Correlation of vitamin D levels with left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

ABSTRACT

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent and has been shown to be associated with cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease, left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and systolic heart failure. Vitamin D is an important hormone whose receptors are found in many tissues including cardiac myocytes, and plays a significant role in the autocrine and paracrine regulation of cellular function, growth and differentiation in various organs. Although there is a substantial published literature on Vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular diseases, there is a little data on Vitamin D deficiency and diastolic dysfunction or diastolic heart failure. Since diastolic dysfunction is an early manifestation of LV hypertrophy and ventricular dysfunction, it may reflect the effects of Vitamin D deficiency on the cardiovascular system. As a result, the present study examines if there is any association between Vitamin D levels and diastolic dysfunction as measured by comprehensive two-dimensional (2D) Doppler echocardiography.