Vitamin D Repletion in Coronary Artery Disease

Vitamin D (Vit D) status is an emerging risk marker of great interest in cardiovascular disease (CVD). Lower serum levels of Vit D are associated with both cardiac risk factors and prevalent cardiovascular disease. Vit D insufficiency remains very prevalent in free living populations in the United States especially in urban, and multi-ethnic low income Northern cities.To date, prospective randomized trials using Vit D supplementation to modify CVD risk and evaluate outcomes have not been performed. The investigators propose a double-blind, randomized wait-list control trial in subjects with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and Vit D deficiency with two specific aims. Specific aim 1 is to measure endothelial function using reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT) before and after treatment with Vit D replacement therapy. Specific Aim 2 is to measure levels of inflammation before and after treatment with Vit D replacement therapy. These aims will test the hypotheses that Vit D repletion will improve endothelial function and reduce the levels of detectable inflammation in the plasma of these subjects.