Vitamin D deficiency connected to high BP

People with low levels of Vitamin D are more prone to have stiffer arteries and inability of blood vessels to relax.

A study conducted by the scientist at the Emory/Georgia Tech. Predictive Health Institute resulted to a conclusion of lack of vitamin D can lead to impaired vascular health, contributing to high blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Vascular health and lower blood pressure were seen to the study participants who usually go under the sunlight, or by means of diet to increase their levels of Vitamin D.

Ibhar Al Mheid, a cardiovascular researcher at the University conducted the study with Arshed Quyyumi, professor of medicine and director of the Emory Cardiovascular Research Institute.

The 554 study participants were the employees of the Emory/Georgia Tech, with an average of 47 and were generally healthy. The average level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (a stable form of the vitamin reflecting diet as well as production in the skin) in participants' blood was 31.8 nanograms per milliliter.

In this group, 14 per cent had 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels considered deficient, or less than 20 nanograms per milliliter, and 33 per cent had levels considered insufficient, less than 30 nanograms per milliliter.

The researchers monitored the ability of participants' blood vessels to relax by inflating and then removing a blood pressure cuff on their arms. To allow blood to flow back into the arm, blood vessels must relax and enlarge with a change that can be measured by ultrasound. The researchers also made other measurements of smaller blood vessels and examined the resistance to blood flow imposed by the arteries.

"Even after controlling for factors such as age, weight and cholesterol, people with lower vitamin D levels still had stiffer arteries and impaired vascular function," said Al Mheid. "We found that people with vitamin D deficiency had vascular dysfunction comparable to those with diabetes or hypertension," he said.

Participants, whose vitamin D levels increased over the next six months, either from dietary supplements or ample sun exposure, tended to improve their measures of vascular health or had lower blood pressure.

Forty-two study participants with vitamin D insufficiency whose levels later went back to normal had an average drop in blood pressure of 4.6 millimeters mercury.

The study was presented at the annual American College of Cardiology meeting in New Orleans.

Source of Vitamin D