Mechanisms
Calcitriol raises CETP levels alongside HDL-C in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis (Int J Vitam Nutr Res 2019)
Original title: Calcitriol modulates cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) levels and lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic male rabbits: A pilot study
In New Zealand white male rabbits fed a 1% cholesterol diet, researchers tested whether calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D3, affects serum cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) levels. After two months, calcitriol-treated rabbits had significantly higher serum CETP than controls (41.75 plus or minus 3.19 versus 34.5 plus or minus 2.3 ng per ml, P less than 0.05), alongside a significant rise in HDL-C (P less than 0.01) and reductions in LDL-C and triglycerides. The authors note that despite the overall anti-atherogenic effect of calcitriol in this model, the accompanying rise in CETP levels may represent an additional pathway that partly interferes with that benefit.
Original abstract
Vitamin D3 efficacy against cardiovascular disease prevention has been reported in many experimental studies. We aimed to investigate the effect of the calcitriol or active form of Vitamin D3 (1, 25(OH) 2D3) on serum cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) levels in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis. New Zealand white male rabbits were fed with 1% cholesterol diet and randomly assigned into two groups (n = 6). The case group was administrated with 50000 calcitriol (IU/kg/per wk) and the control group which administrated with calcitriol solvent (sesame oil) for 2 months. Then, after two months the lipid profile, CETP and 25OHD3 levels were measured. The serum concentration of CETP was increased after treatment with calcitriol in case group as compared to the control group (41.75 ± 3.19 vs. 34.5 ± 2.3, ng/ml, P < 0.05). We also observed higher levels of the 25OHD3 in the calcitriol group at the 1st month (16.3 ± 1.64 vs. 12.8 ± 1.33 ng/ml) and the 2nd month (19.5 ± 2.14 vs. 12.5 ± 1.25 ng/ml) as compared with the control group. the significant increase in the level of HDL-C was observed in the case group than the control group (P < 0.01). In addition, serum levels of LDL- Cholesterol (LDL-C), Triglyceride (TG) were reduced after assessment at 1st and 2nd month after administration of calcitriol. Our research indicated the significant anti-atherogenic effects of calcitriol in the rabbit model of atherosclerosis. However, increased in CETP levels by calcitriol may know as an additional way, which interfere with the anti-atherogenic effects of calcitriol.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.