A study of 74 female monkeys who were fed vitamin D3 to investigate its role in cardioprotection post-menopause has show support for this association.
High plasma concenterations of 25OHD3 were found to be associated with a lower C-reactive protein level; which is in turn associated with a lower level of coronary atherosclerosis and improve remodelling of the coronary artery.
The study involved using a midly atherogenic diet (one which promotes atherosclerosis), for twelve months, followed by surgically produced monopause, and a continuation with either soy-based or casein-lactabumin based diets.
Even after controlling for the postmenopausal diet, the significant associations between plasma 25OHD3 and C-reactive protein remained, and those which had increased in C-reactive protein had significantly more atherosclerosis and were less able to keep their lumen normal during the remodelling process.
The study can be found in the current issue of Menopause, October 2012 – Volume 19 – Issue 10 – p 1074–1080 and was conducted by researchers from centers including the Reading Hospital and the Wake Forest School of Medicine.