Association of vitamin D status with coronary artery disease in postmenopausal women

The relationship between coronary artery disease (CAD) and low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels has emerged. Postmenopausal (PM) women are at increased risk of CAD and vitamin D (VitD) deficiency. To investigate the relationship between CAD and VitD levels in PM women. This case–control study included 93 consecutive female patients aged 50 to 79 years old undergoing coronary angiography for evaluation of CAD and 119 age-matched controls. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were classed as adequate (serum 25(OH)D: ≥20 ng/mL); insufficient (serum 25(OH)D: 10 to <20 ng/mL); and deficient (serum 25(OH)D: <10 ng/mL). Major cardiovascular risk factors were also explored. CAD occurred in 67/127 (52.8%) patients with VitD deficiency; 21/66 (31.8%) patients that were VitD insufficient; and in 5/19 (26.3%) patients with adequate VitD levels. Multivariate regression analysis suggested that a deficiency of VitD increased CAD (odds ratio = 2.891; 95% confidence interval = 1.459–7.139, P < .001). VitD deficiency should be evaluated in PM women as a possible cause of CAD.