12 Feb Low Vitamin D in Childhood Linked To Early Atherosclerosis

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Markus Juonala, MD, PhD
University of Turku Finland

Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: Earlier studies suggest that low vitamin D levels may be associated with cardiovascular disease. We wanted to study whether low childhood vitamin levels predict carotid intima-media thickness, a marker of early atherosclerosis, in adulthood. We observed that those children with vitamin D in lowest quartile had increased risk for high carotid intima-media thickness.

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Response: Our study is only observational and does not provide answers for causality. However, it seems that awareness of vitamin D levels may be needed in childhood.

Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: It is essential to have more data from intervention studies concerning the effects of vitamin D supplementation on arterial health.

Citation:

Markus Juonala, Atte Voipio, Katja Pahkala, Jorma S. A. Viikari, Vera Mikkilä, Mika Kähönen, Nina Hutri-Kähönen, Antti Jula, David Burgner, Matthew A. Sabin, Jukka Marniemi, Britt-Marie Loo, Tomi Laitinen, Eero Jokinen, Leena Taittonen, Costan G. Magnussen, Olli T. Raitakari. Childhood 25-OH Vitamin D Levels and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Adulthood: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2015; jc.2014-3944 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2014-3944

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MedicalResearch.com Interview with:, & Markus Juonala, MD, PhD (2015). Low Vitamin D in Childhood Linked To Early Atherosclerosis MedicalResearch.com

Last Updated on February 12, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD