Studies

Explore research connecting ingredients and health goals.

587 ingredient–goal connections

GoalReported findings
SupportiveMixedNo effectAdverseUnclassified

Cardiovascular SupportandVitamin D

170published studies

MixedNot rated

Low vitamin D levels are associated with high blood pressure, arterial stiffness and less favorable metabolic profiles. These observational links do not prove that vitamin D deficiency causes cardiovascular disease or that supplements prevent it. In the supplied intervention evidence, vitamin D has not consistently improved blood pressure or blood vessel function, including in some people with low starting levels.

Some trials and reviews report modest improvements in blood lipids, blood pressure or vascular function, particularly in selected deficient or higher-risk groups. Other analyses find no benefit, and some lipid changes are unfavorable. Findings involving prescription vitamin D analogues in kidney disease also cannot be assumed to apply to ordinary supplements.

Most favorable findings concern risk markers rather than clinical events. Event-focused research has not established an overall reduction in major cardiovascular outcomes, despite some encouraging secondary findings. Correcting low vitamin D and demonstrating additional cardiovascular protection are therefore separate questions; the latter remains unproven as a general benefit.

170 linked studies · 28 sampled for detail · Sep 27, 2026

Study types

  • Randomized trial50
  • Narrative review46
  • Cross-sectional study19
  • Cohort study17
  • Meta-analysis14
  • Observational study7
  • Systematic review7
  • Single-arm trial5
  • Case-control study2
  • Clinical trial1
  • Non-randomized trial1
  • Scoping review1

Published by year

  • 5Earlier
  • 22010
  • 42011
  • 82012
  • 62013
  • 82014
  • 82015
  • 82016
  • 92017
  • 142018
  • 82019
  • 82020
  • 92021
  • 152022
  • 82023
  • 132024
  • 132025
  • 242026

Findings over time

Numbers above bars show study counts. Earlier groups years before 2010.

202624 studies

  • Supportive15
  • Mixed4
  • No effect4
  • Adverse1
  • Unclassified0

Population over time

Reported participants by publication year. Select a year to see the total and reporting coverage.

— Participant count not reported. Earlier groups years before 2010.

2026466,086 reported participants

Counts reported by 19 of 24 studies. 5 without a reported count.

Totals sum reported counts across studies and reviews; participants may overlap between sources.

Explore this goal

Showing 5 top-ranked studies for Vitamin D and Cardiovascular Support.

Top studies

Vitamin D · Cardiovascular SupportHighest ranked first
  1. Comparative Efficacy of Nutraceuticals on Endothelial Function: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.
    2026Meta-analysis

    Current atherosclerosis reports

    Finding Vitamin D3 was among the interventions with the largest reported FMD improvement (MD 7.84; certainty of evidence high), although the comparison included multiple dietary interventions.

    SupportiveView source for Comparative Efficacy of Nutraceuticals on Endothelial Function: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Randomized Trial of Vitamin D Supplementation on Vascular Function in CKD.
    2017Randomized trial120 participants

    Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN

    Finding Cholecalciferol improved the primary endothelial-function outcome at 16 weeks, with a between-group mean-change difference of 5.49% (95% CI 4.34%–6.64%; P<0.001).

    SupportiveView source for A Randomized Trial of Vitamin D Supplementation on Vascular Function in CKD. (opens in a new tab)
  3. Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial on the contributions of vitamin D in the control of cardiovascular risk factors, depressive symptoms and suicide risk.
    2025Randomized trial224 participants

    American heart journal plus : cardiology research and practice

    Finding Thirteen of 15 evaluated cardiovascular risk factors normalized or decreased significantly, with no reported calcium-metabolism or other adverse events.

    SupportiveView source for Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial on the contributions of vitamin D in the control of cardiovascular risk factors, depressive symptoms and suicide risk. (opens in a new tab)
  4. Dose responses of vitamin D3 supplementation on arterial stiffness in overweight African Americans with vitamin D deficiency: A placebo controlled randomized trial.
    2017Randomized trial70 participants

    PloS one

    Finding Carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity showed a significant downward linear trend with increasing vitamin D3 dose, with the largest mean decrease in the 4000 IU/day group.

    SupportiveView source for Dose responses of vitamin D3 supplementation on arterial stiffness in overweight African Americans with vitamin D deficiency: A placebo controlled randomized trial. (opens in a new tab)
  5. Paricalcitol and endothelial function in chronic kidney disease trial.
    2015Randomized trial88 participants

    Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979)

    Finding Paricalcitol significantly improved the primary flow-mediated dilation endpoint versus placebo.

    SupportiveView source for Paricalcitol and endothelial function in chronic kidney disease trial. (opens in a new tab)

Counts reflect published studies in our database, not the strength of a benefit. A study may appear in more than one connection.