Vitamin D Deficiencies Linked to Increased Risk of High Blood Pressure

A recent study published in the journal The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology found a casual link between vitamin D deficiencies and increased risk of high blood pressure.

"We set up a Mendelian randomisation study using genetic data from the D-CarDia collaboration involving more than 140,000 individuals of European ancestry from across Europe and North America," said Professor Elina Hyppönen of the University of South Australia, in a news release. "We used two common genetic variants that affect circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations, which are generally used to determine a person's vitamin D status, to measure the causal effect between vitamin D status and blood pressure and hypertension risk."

More specifically, researchers found that for about each 10 percent increase in circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration, there was also a drop in systolic blood pressure.

The study findings reveal just how important vitamin D is for overall health and well-being.

"The potential to prevent and reduce high blood pressure with vitamin D in place of more expensive medications is certainly something researchers can now usefully explore in greater depth," Hyppönen added. 

"What will be really important is an independent replication of this study," she concluded. "And to advance the work further, we need to do more research using [randomized] controlled studies to look at and confirm causality and importantly assess the clinical benefits of vitamin D supplements and dosage levels."