Vitamin D, insulin resistance and heart disease
Official title: Vitamin D Deficiency, Insulin Resistance and Cardiovascular disease
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11392902 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | April 15, 2010 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $728,824 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL094818-13 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392902 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose high blood pressure arises from unrelated genetic causes or adult lifestyle factors may not benefit directly from these findings.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bernal-Mizrachi, Carlos — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Bernal-Mizrachi, Carlos
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Investigating how certain genes affect cardiovascular disease in women and transgender individuals.
This study is looking at how genetics and hormones affect heart disease risk in women and transgender individuals, especially related to insulin resistance, to help create better ways to identify and treat those at risk.
-
Understanding how genetic changes in blood cells relate to heart disease in people with HIV
A study will look at how age-related blood cell mutations and large chromosomal changes might contribute to heart disease risk in people living with HIV.
-
Food allergy antibodies linked to heart disease risk in adults
Many adults have antibodies to foods without symptoms, and this study asks whether those antibodies are linked to higher risk of heart disease and related conditions.
-
Mindfulness training to lower cardiovascular risk for moms and babies during pregnancy
A mindfulness program is being tested during pregnancy to help prevent high blood pressure and heart problems for mothers and their babies.
-
Integrating clinical pharmacists into HIV care to reduce cardiovascular disease in people with HIV
A pharmacist-led program in HIV care aims to prevent and manage heart disease risks like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol in people living with HIV.
-
Integrating heart care into HIV services in Botswana using statins
This project tests a simple, scalable approach to help people with HIV in Botswana start and stay on statin therapy to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
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.