Vitamin D Does Not Reduce High BP in Older Adults

A new study states that Vitamin D supplementation does not lower blood pressure in those with hypertension.

A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Dundee, U.K., says that Vitamin D supplementation does not improve blood pressure in older patients with isolated systolic hypertension, a common type of high blood pressure.

The researchers state, "It is still possible, however, that vitamin D supplementation could have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health via non-blood pressure effects, and ongoing large randomized trials are due to report on this in the next few years."

To proceed with the study, the researchers conducted a randomized trial on 159 patients with an average age of 77 years. These participants suffered with isolated systolic hypertension and were randomly assigned either a vitamin D or a placebo group.

Every three months for one year they received supplementation. During the one year study period, the researchers measured the variations in the 24 hour blood pressure, office blood pressure, endothelial function, arterial stiffness, level of cholesterol, insulin resistance and b-type natriuretic peptide level.

The researchers didn't notice any significant effect from treatment in the office blood pressure as well as other secondary outcomes such as 24-hour blood pressure, arterial stiffness, endothelial function, cholesterol level and glucose level.

According to the researchers, the possible lack of any effect of Vitamin D on blood pressure patients could be because of inadequate dosage or that Vitamin D has no role in improving the disorder.

Edward Giovannucci, MD, ScD, of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, said, "These findings may dampen some of the enthusiasm for vitamin D as a powerful agent in uniformly lowering blood pressure. However, it is important to put this study in context of other evidence."