Impact of Vitamin D Supplementation on Bone Mineral Density and All-Cause Mortality in Heart Transplant Patients

• Vitamin D (VD) deficiency is frequently reported in heart transplant (HT) recipients and routinely supplemented. However, the efficacy of VD supplementation on bone mineral density (BMD) and its association with all-cause mortality is underinvestigated. The VD levels and BMD were studied for two years, and the association of VD and BMD with all-cause mortality risk was investigated. Ninety-six HT patients (38.18 & PLUSMN; 12.10 years old; 74% men) were followed up during VD, Ca, and Mg supplementation. Anthropometric measurements, BMD by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan, VD concentrations, and related biochemical parameters were analyzed before, 1 year, and 2 years after HT. Despite significant improvement of VD3 and 25-hydroxy VD (25OHVD) levels especially in the men, BMD parameters were insignificantly changed. After 2 years, the all-cause mortality rate was 15.6%. High pretransplant levels of 25OHVD failed to improve the survival probability. Cox's regression showed a 32.7% increased hazard ratio for each unit increase in body mass index (95% CI: 1.015-1.733, p = 0.038), in the VD-deficient group rather than in the VD-sufficient one. In conclusion, VD supplementation improves the biochemical status, especially in VD-deficient HT. However, its impact on the BMD and mortality was not as usually expected. Further investigation of the disturbed VD metabolism in HT is warranted.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kardiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems (hsv//eng)

Keyword

vitamin D

bone mineral density

supplementation

all-cause mortality

heart transplant

d deficiency

hyperparathyroidism

osteoporosis

recipients

society

metabolism

etidronate

calcitriol

prevention

calcitonin

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Research & Experimental Medicine

Pharmacology & Pharmacy

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)