Protective Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation Against Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Model

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality on a global scale, with a higher prevalence observed among men. This study investigated the protective effect of vitamin D supplementation on CVD.

Methods: A cohort of thirty mice was divided into three groups: control, T1 diabetic, and T1 diabetic groups that received vitamin D treatment. For each mouse in the three groups, measurements were taken of body weight, blood glucose levels, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profile, cardiac enzymes, troponin I, adropin, nitric oxide (NO), endothelin-1, and Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In addition, measurements were taken for the overall lymphocyte count, as well as the CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+, CD25+, and CD8+ CD25+ cell counts in all mice.

Results: The diabetic mice that received vitamin D treatment exhibited significant reductions in blood glucose levels, HbA1c levels, lipid profile, cardiac enzymes, troponin I, endothelin-1, and VEGF levels as compared to the untreated diabetic group (p < 0.01). Furthermore, there was an observed rise in adropin and NO levels in diabetic mice that received vitamin D treatment compared to the untreated diabetic group (p < 0.05). The diabetic mice treated with vitamin D exhibited a substantial decrease in total lymphocyte counts compared to the untreated diabetic and control animals (p < 0.0001). Regarding the CD3+ subset, it was shown that diabetic mice subjected to vitamin D treatment had notably elevated levels of these cells compared to both the untreated diabetic and control groups (p < 0.0001). In addition, the administration of vitamin D resulted in a substantial decrease in the numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ cells in the group of individuals with diabetes (p < 0.0001). The diabetes group that received vitamin D treatment had significantly reduced populations of CD4+ CD25+ and CD8+ CD25+ compared to the untreated diabetic group (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: Vitamin D maintains the integrity of the cardiovascular system through the reduction of blood glucose levels and lipid profile. Moreover, its supplementation prevents atherosclerotic CVD by suppressing inflammatory reactions.

Keywords: CD4+; CD8+.; VEGF; Vitamin D; adropin; cardiovascular disease.