RTRN Pilot Project

The Effect of 25 Hydroxy-Vitamin D3 [25 (OH)D3] on
Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Cardiovascular Function

Principal Investigators:
Keith Norris, M.D. (Charles Drew University)
Gary Gibbons, M.D. (Morehouse School of Medicine)

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and related disorders are the leading cause of death in the nation. Hypertension, diabetes and obesity are prevalent in ethnic populations and Caucasians. Early data has linked an increased rated of cardiovascular disease in ethnic populations to an insufficiency of Vitamin D3. Research teams at Charles Drew University – led by Principal Investigator Dr. Keith Norris and Morehouse School of Medicine – led by Principal Investigator Dr. Gary Gibbons – in collaboration with the RTRN Data Technology Coordinating Center (DTCC) will conduct the first clinical study for the network. The study, "The Effect of 25 Hydroxy-Vitamin D3 [25 (OH)D3] on Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Cardiovascular Function’ will examine the effects of Vitamin D on vascular function and selected cardiovascular risk factors and will also serve as a model for standardizing the network’s research processes and achieving good clinical practices and uniform standards (HIPAA). The study is a randomized trial observing 130 African-American participants taking either Vitamin D3 or a placebo once a month for 90 days.

Study Status