Abstract
Background: Vitamin D (VitD) inadequacy has recently been implicated in the development of myocardial infarction (MI). Parathyroid hormone (PTH), which works closely with VitD in regulating calcium balance, has also been shown to exert cardiovascular effects. Clinical data on serum VitD and PTH in MI and their association with lipid profile are wanting, particularly in the local context. The present study assessed serum vitamin D and PTH in MI and determined their correlation with lipid profile parameters. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional comparative study assessed serum vitamin D, PTH and lipid profile in patients (n=30) with recent MI (< 1-month history). Comparisons were made with healthy age-matched controls (n=30) using independent sample t-test while correlations were determined using Pearson's correlation. Results: MI patients had lower VitD (27.52 +/- 12.99 ng/mL vs. 51.10 +/- 6.48 ng/mL; p=0.001) and higher PTH levels (45.51 +/- 25.72 pg/mL vs. 19.90 +/- 8.50 pg/mL; p-0.001). Low VitD and high PTH correlated with deranged lipid profile overall. Conclusion: Low VitD and high PTH potentially increase the risk of MI through disturbance of lipid balance. Future studies employing supplementation with VitD and control of PTH may help find their role in mitigating the risk of MI.