Vitamin D, arterial hypertension & cerebrovascular disease.

Vitamin D is mainly derived from endogenous ultraviolet-B induced vitamin D synthesis in the skin, and the current high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency can, therefore, largely be attributed to lifestyle related low sunlight exposure. Regulation of bone and mineral metabolism is a classic vitamin D effect, but the identification of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in almost all human cells suggests a role for vitamin D also in extra-skeletal diseases. Experimental studies demonstrated several antihypertensive and vascular protective effects of vitamin D, such as suppression of the renin angiotensin aldosterone system, beneficial modulation of classic cardiovascular risk factors, and anti-atherosclerotic properties including improvements of endothelial function. Additional neuroprotective actions of vitamin D have also been reported. In line with this, epidemiological studies have largely shown that vitamin D deficiency is an independent risk factor for arterial hypertension and strokes. Data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are, however, limited and less promising, with currently no confirmation that vitamin D reduces stroke incidence. Whereas some RCTs suggest that vitamin D supplementation might modestly reduce blood pressure, this has not been consistently observed in all studies. It is, therefore, premature to recommend vitamin D supplementation for the prevention and treatment of arterial hypertension and stroke. Nevertheless, the fact that patients with arterial hypertension and cerebrovascular disease are at a relatively high risk of vitamin D deficiency, and therewith associated musculoskeletal diseases can serve as a rationale for the evaluation, prevention and treatment of vitamin D deficiency in these patients.

The Petai China study: metabolic syndrome among obese Indonesian Chinese adolescents (preliminary report).

AIM: We examined 251 boys and 259 young girls of chinese offspring, age of 12 to 18 years old from 5 schools around North Jakarta and West of Jakarta. The variables observed are Body Mass Index, waist circumference, fasting sugar level, fasting HDL-cholesterol, tryglyceride and insulin level (fasting). METHODS: Cross-sectional epidemiology survey. RESULTS: We found 125 youngsters as obese which are 82 young boys and 43 young girls. 47 of the 510 students observed anthropometrically agreed to continue the examination for blood test. The prevalence of the obesity is 4,9% of the population observed and the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome found higher among male students (19,14%) of 10,63% among female students. For the obese population, the criterion of metabolic syndrome is found higher (35,71%). CONCLUSION: We determined the existence of metabolic syndrome among the youth in Jakarta that the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is higher among the obese population.