BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The present study aimed at investigating the effect of a period of cardiac rehabilitation program with consumption of vitamin D on NO, ET1, VEGF, anxiety, and depression levels in cardiac patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). MATERIAL(S) AND METHOD(S): A clinical trial was conducted in 32 cardiac patients undergoing CABG surgery in Sari Fatemeh Zahra Hospital. The subjects were randomly divided into four groups including control, vitamin D, exercise, and exercise-vitamin D. The training program included aerobic exercises (70 to 85% maximum heart rate/60 to 85 min) followed by strength exercises in three sets with 10 repetitions (20 to 60% of maximum repetition for 6 weeks/3 sessions per week). The levels of NO, ET1, VEGF anxiety, and depression were investigated before and after 6 weeks. Data were analyzed using correlated t-test and two-way ANOVA test. RESULT(S): In the exercise, vitamin D, and exercise-vitamin D groups, the levels of NO and VEGF increased significantly, but ET1 level showed a significant decrease. Furthermore, significant reductions were seen in anxiety and depression levels in all groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION(S): Current study showed vitamin D and exercise-vitamin D could improve the levels of NO, ET1, VEGF, anxiety, and depression in cardiac patients after CABG surgery. Nevertheless, exercise-vitamin D was more effective in improving the NO, ET1, VEGF, anxiety, and depression levels.

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