Evolving our understanding of vitamin D, periostin levels and cardiovascular risk in the elderly: a cross sectional study

Summary This cross-sectional study explored how vitamin D and the protein periostin are related to the risk of heart disease in elderly individuals. Lower levels of both were linked to higher risk of heart disease. The findings suggest these markers may help identify cardiovascular (CV) risk as people age. Purpose Given that both vitamin D and periostin are implicated in CV health, understanding their interrelationship could provide insights into the mechanisms influencing CV risk in aging populations. Methods This was a cross-sectional analysis in a subgroup of elderly people from the InCHIANTI Biobank in Italy. Serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), and periostin were measured, and their associations with both an arbitrary CV risk score and the European Society of Cardiology’s 10-year CV risk estimate (SCORE2/SCORE2-OP) were assessed through univariate and multivariate regression. Results Serum levels of 25(OH)D), 1,25(OH)2D, and periostin were analyzed in blood samples from 299 individuals (aged 72.8 ± 15.7 years). A significant positive correlation was found between periostin and both 1,25(OH)2D (r = 0.39, p < 0.0001) and 25(OH)D (r = 0.76, p < 0.0001) . Individuals with low periostin (< 150 pmol/L) had significantly higher CV risk scores (2.9 ± 1.4) and SCORE2/SCORE2-OP values (21.1 ± 12.5%) compared to those with high periostin levels (2.2 ± 1.4 and 14.7 ± 11.7, respectively; p < 0.0001). Logistic regression revealed that periostin levels < 150 pmol/L were significantly associated with 25(OH)D levels < 20 ng/mL (OR: 22.4, p < 0.0001), age ≥ 75 years (OR: 2.7, p = 0.006), and dyslipidemia (OR: 3.26, p = 0.0003). Low levels of vitamin D metabolites and low periostin were significantly associated with higher CV risk, but in a multivariate model only low 1,25(OH)2D levels (< 41 pg/mL) remained significantly associated with high CV risk (OR: 3.0–3.45, p < 0.0001). Conclusion This analysis identified a significant association between periostin and serum vitamin D levels, both linked to increased CV risk in the elderly, suggesting their potential role in CV disease.