People whose blood contains too little vitamin D are at higher risk for hypertension, according to a study. This is the first time that a causal link has been demonstrated.
Too little vitamin D increases the risk of high blood pressure. A study, published on June 26 in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, proves a causal relationship between vitamin D deficiency and excessively high blood pressure, at least in people with a genetic mutation.
The researchers behind this study reviewed the genetic data of more than 146,000 Caucasian people living in Europe and North America. They looked for a genetic variation that causes the level of vitamin D in the blood to drop. In carriers, each 10% increase in the amount of vitamin D is associated with an 8.1% decrease in the risk of hypertension. Indeed, this nutrient participates in the reduction of diastolic pressure and systolic pressure, underlines this study. Such a causal link had never before been demonstrated.
Preventive supplementation soon?
“In view of the costs and side effects of hypotensive drugs, the potential of vitamin D in the treatment of hypertension or to prevent an increase in blood pressure, and therefore the risk of hypertension, is very interesting”, underlines Pr Elina Hyppönen, Principal Investigator. But she recognizes that further studies will be needed to ascertain the benefits of vitamin D supplementation in preventing hypertension. In all cases, patients with low vitamin D concentration should be monitored. In the general population, deficiencies are common, especially due to underexposure to the sun.
“Although this study is an important step towards delineating the role of low levels of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of hypertension, there are many gray areas. Confirmation of these results through independent studies will be needed, as will evidence of a corresponding benefit in preventing diseases caused by hypertension, such as stroke, ”commented Drs Shoaib Afzal (from CHU Copenhagen) and Dr Børge Nordestgaard (from the University of Copenhagen) in a commentary associated with the study. “Finally, randomized intervention trials will be needed to determine whether vitamin D supplementation can be used to prevent or treat hypertension before such strategies are used in the clinic. “
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