Vitamin D supplements can help lower blood pressure, research shows

• Vitamin D supplements have been linked to many health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease, supporting immune function and aiding weight loss.
• New research suggests that calcium and… Vitamin D supplements may have a high blood pressure lowering effect, especially in overweight or obese older adults.
• However, the research indicates that taking more than recommended and exceeding the daily dose of vitamin D does not provide additional benefits.

According to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, older adults ages 51-70 are recommended 600 International Units (IU), or 15 mcg. vitamin D dailywhile people aged 70 and over are advised to consume 800 IU or 20 mcg.

This study adds to the growing evidence of vitamin D’s many health benefits, particularly for circulatory and metabolic health.

The study received financial support from the Fogarty International Center and Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the American University of Beirut, Saint Joseph University, the Lebanese Council for National Scientific Research, the Mayo Clinic, and Odense University Hopital.

In this double-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT), researchers examined 221 adults aged 65 or older who had a BMI greater than 25 and were considered to be overweight or obese.

They also had a serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level between 10 and 30 ng/ml, indicating ‘insufficient’ vitamin D levels (below 30/ml) or vitamin D deficiency (less than 20 ng/ml).

All participants received 250 mg calcium citrate daily. Regarding their vitamin D intake, they were divided into two groups: the ‘low dose group’ took 600 IU/day along with placebo pills, and the ‘high dose group’ took 3,750 IU/day. Researchers observed the participants for a year.

At the end of the study, the researchers found that vitamin D supplementation helped lower blood pressure.

Although there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups, participants experienced an average drop of 3.5 mm Hg in their blood sugar levels. systolic blood pressure (SBP), and a modest decrease of 2.8 mm Hg diastolic blood pressure (DBP) after one year. Those in the high-dose vitamin D group experienced a slightly greater reduction than those in the low-dose vitamin D group.

The researchers also saw no additional benefit in participants who took a higher dose of vitamin D.

Of all the participants, the researchers found that obese people and people with low vitamin D levels benefited most from supplemental vitamin D.

Michelle Routhenstein, MS, RD, CDCES, CDNEntirelyNourished.com’s preventive cardiology dietitian and heart health expert, who was not involved in the study, said the study results were not surprising given the role of calcium and vitamin D in blood pressure regulation.

Routhenstein explained how vitamin D can affect blood pressure:

“Vitamin D is involved in regulating the renin-angiotensin system, which plays a key role in controlling blood pressure. When vitamin D levels are low, renin secretion tends to increase, which can increase blood pressure by activating this system.”

“Calcium was also provided, and is known to support blood pressure regulation due to its effect on blood vessel function. By helping blood vessels relax and maintain proper tone, calcium can contribute to lower blood pressure,” she said Medical news today.

A key finding from the study is that taking higher than recommended doses of vitamin D has no additional benefits on cardiovascular health, according to this study.

Commenting on this, Routhenstein said:

“Many people assume that more is always better, but when it comes to nutrients, it’s all about finding the right balance for your body, taking into account factors like your lab results, diet and medical history. The goal is to get enough to meet your needs – not too little, but not too much.”

She also warned against using vitamin D supplements for longer periods and higher than necessary doses.

“For vitamin D, which is fat-soluble, taking high doses for long periods of time can lead to toxicity. That’s why it’s important to get your vitamin D levels checked to make sure you’re getting the right amount for your health,” she said. MNT.

When it comes to choosing the right vitamin D supplements, Routhenstein emphasized that not all supplements are created equal.

“Many contain oils that can become rancid if exposed to heat during storage or transportation,” she said.

“Since vitamin D is fat-soluble, taking it with a meal that contains fat can improve absorption and make it work more effectively,” she added.

The study has several limitations, especially regarding sample size, diversity, and baseline comorbidities.

The participants were mainly older adults (mean age of 71.1 years) with a high body mass index (average BMI of 30.2). Furthermore, only nine participants were regularly physically active.

These may limit the generalizability of this study’s findings to other populations or age groups. The same can be said about the racial or ethnic diversity of the study participants, which may mean the findings may not apply to larger, more diverse populations.

The participants also had a high prevalence of comorbidities, such as hypertension, with 48% of participants being treated with antihypertensive medications. In addition, some started treatment after participating in the study, but sensitive analyzes showed that they started blood pressure medication did not change the overall results of the study. This may also affect the generalizability of these results to individuals without hypertension.