Relation of Vitamin D Status to Congestive Heart Failure and Cardiovascular Events in Dogs

Abstract

Background

Vitamin D plays a pivotal role in cardiac function, and there is increasing evidence that vitamin D deficiency is associated with the development of congestive heart failure ( CHF) in people.

Hypothesis

Serum vitamin D concentration is lower in dogs with CHF compared with unaffected controls and serum vitamin D concentration is associated with clinical outcome in dogs with CHF.

Animals

Eighty‐two client‐owned dogs.

Methods

In this cross‐sectional study, we examined the association between circulating 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [25( OH)D], a measure of vitamin D status, and CHF in dogs. In the prospective cohort study, we examined whether 25( OH)D serum concentration was associated with clinical outcome in dogs with CHF.

Results

Mean 25( OH)D concentration (100 ± 44 nmol/L) in 31 dogs with CHF was significantly lower than that of 51 unaffected dogs (123 ± 42 nmol/L; P = .023). The mean calculated vitamin D intake per kg of metabolic body weight in dogs with CHF was no different from that of unaffected dogs (1.37 ± 0.90 μg/kg metabolic body weight versus 0.98 ± 0.59 μg/kg body weight, respectively, P = .097). There was a significant association of serum 25( OH)D concentration on time to clinical manifestation of CHF or sudden death ( P = .02).

Conclusion and Clinical Relevance

These findings suggest that low concentrations of 25( OH)D may be a risk factor for CHF in dogs. Low serum 25( OH)D concentration was associated with poor outcome in dogs with CHF. Strategies to improve vitamin D status in some dogs with CHF may prove beneficial without causing toxicity.