HYDERABAD: Vitamin D deficiency may increase oxidative and cellular stress in heart tissue, according to a study by researchers at the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN), Hyderabad.
The study found that inadequate vitamin D levels disrupted the antioxidant defence system in the heart, increased oxidative stress and activated cellular pathways associated with cardiac cell injury and death.
Titled “Vitamin D mitigates oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress and protects cardiac tissue from apoptotic cell death in vivo and in vitro,” the study was published in the international journal, Steroids. Researchers examined the effects of normal, low and deficient dietary vitamin D levels in rats. They also studied rat cardiac cells exposed to oxidative stress to assess whether vitamin D could reduce cellular damage.
The researchers found that rats fed low or deficient levels of vitamin D had increased oxidative damage in heart tissue, along with reduced glutathione levels and lower activity of key antioxidant enzymes. Vitamin D deficiency also affected the Nrf2 pathway, which plays a role in protecting cells against oxidative stress.
“We further observed increased markers of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, autophagy and apoptosis in vitamin D-deficient hearts. These findings suggest that prolonged oxidative stress associated with inadequate vitamin D may trigger a cascade of cellular responses that can contribute to cardiac cell injury,” said Dr Ayesha Ismail, Scientist F, who led the research group.
In experiments involving rat cardiac cells, oxidative stress reduced cell viability and increased markers associated with oxidative damage, ER stress and apoptosis. Pre-treatment with the active form of vitamin D improved antioxidant responses and reduced these cellular stress responses.
Dr Bharati Kulkarni, director, ICMR-NIN, said the findings indicate that adequate vitamin D may help cardiac cells respond to oxidative stress and limit cellular damage. However, she said the findings were based on animal and cell models and needed to be investigated further in humans.
Dr Ismail told Deccan Chronicle that the current work was part of pre-clinical research examining the mechanisms involved. “We are also conducting clinical studies. Our pre-clinical studies are at the mechanism stage. Individuals should keep a check on their vitamin D levels,” she said.
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