Effect of 1, 25 (OH)2 Vitamin D3 on Serum Levels of Inflammatory Cytokines in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Background: A number of preventive or therapeutic strategies have been proposed to compensate for the inflammatory process during adult cardiac surgeries; none has been considered definitive. 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D3 is a type of physiologic hormones with immunomodulatory effects. This study assessed the effect of oral vitamin D on serum levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in adult coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Materials and methods: In a double blind placebo controlled clinical trial, with a sample size of 80 patients, randomly assigned in either the placebo group (including 40 patients; placebo pills) or the intervention group (i.e. 40 patients; vitamin D pearls), CABG surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass was performed. Serum cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α) were evaluated preoperatively and during the first postoperative day. Results: Serum TNF-α level was similar in the two groups; however, postoperative levels of IL-1 and IL-6 were significantly lower in vitamin D group. Conclusion: The current study demonstrated that oral vitamin D supplements could augment immunomodulatory effects in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgical procedures (mainly CABG).