Low Vitamin D Linked to High Blood Pressure

A number of previous studies suggest that low plasma levels of vitamin D (measured as 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25[OH]D) associate with high arterial blood pressure and hypertension (high blood pressure) risk.  Elina Hypponen, from the University of South Australia (Australia), and colleagues completed a Mendelian randomization study using genetic data from the D-CarDia collaboration involving more than 146,500 men and women of European ancestry.  The team used two common genetic variants that affect circulating plasma vitamin D concentrations to measure whether there was a causal effect between vitamin D status and blood pressure.  For each 10% increase in plasma vitamin D, the researchers observed a drop in both diastolic and systolic blood pressures, as well as an 8.1% decreased risk of developing  hypertension.  The study authors conclude that: “Increased plasma concentrations of 25(OH)D might reduce the risk of hypertension.”