Vitamin D, insulin resistance and heart disease
Vitamin D Deficiency, Insulin Resistance and Cardiovascular disease
This work looks at whether low vitamin D in pregnancy and early life causes changes in immune and stem cells that lead to high blood pressure and heart disease later on.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11392902 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient or parent, the team is studying how vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy can change a baby's immune stem cells so those cells later raise blood pressure. They use mouse models that remove the vitamin D receptor in immune cells and perform bone marrow or immune-cell transplants to see if hypertension is passed on. The researchers measure gene expression and epigenetic changes in hematopoietic stem cells and macrophages, focusing on pathways like Jarid2 and Mef2/PGC1α. Results are used to link early vitamin D exposure to inflammation and long-term cardiovascular risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People most directly relevant would be pregnant individuals or families concerned about low vitamin D in pregnancy and children at risk for early-life high blood pressure.
Not a fit: Patients whose high blood pressure arises from unrelated genetic causes or adult lifestyle factors may not benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If confirmed, this work could point to vitamin D or immune-targeted prevention during pregnancy or early life to reduce the risk of early-onset high blood pressure and future heart disease.
How similar studies have performed: Observational human studies and animal work have linked low maternal vitamin D to higher offspring blood pressure, but the idea that immune cells can permanently transfer hypertension is a novel finding being explored here.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bernal-Mizrachi, Carlos — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Bernal-Mizrachi, Carlos
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.