High-dose vitamin D reduces blood pressure variability among adults age 60 years and older.
High blood pressure is a major cause of disease and death worldwide. A person’s blood pressure varies throughout the day in response to changes in physical and mental activities, sleep, and other stimuli. High variability may increase a person’s risk for cardiovascular disease. Findings from a new study suggest that high-dose vitamin D reduces blood pressure variability.
Vitamin D is a steroid hormone that participates in many aspects of human health, including regulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, an endocrine system that plays key roles in blood pressure control. Some evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency increases a person’s risk for high blood pressure.
The randomized, double-blind trial involved 250 men and women over the age of 60 years who were enrolled in a larger study of people with arthritis. Half of the participants received high dose (2000 IU) vitamin D3 and the other half received a standard dose (800 IU) daily for 24 months. The participants monitored their blood pressure at home, checking it every 20 minutes during the day and every hour during their sleep, using a home-based ambulatory monitor.
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Over the two-year period, both groups of participants experienced minor reductions in their systolic blood pressures. But those taking the high dose vitamin D saw improvements in their blood pressure variability. Unfortunately, this study did not have a placebo group, so determining whether vitamin D reduces blood pressure is not possible.
These findings demonstrate that vitamin D supplementation may be useful in reducing blood pressure variability, but more research is needed to confirm.