Vitamin D may lower blood pressure

Vitamin D supplements could reduce blood pressure in patients diagnosed with hypertension, states a new study from Denmark.

In this randomized controlled trial, the blood pressure of 112 patients with hypertension who received either vitamin D (75 mcg/day) or a placebo for 20 weeks in winter was measured (1). The study results showed that the patients who took the vitamin D supplement showed a significant reduction of 6.8 mmHg in systolic blood pressure and a cut in diastolic blood pressure of 1.7mmHg. Of the 112 patients, 92 were found to have insufficient blood vitamin D concentrations at the start of the study.

The researchers concluded that hypertensive patients can benefit from vitamin D supplementation if they have a vitamin D insufficiency. The majority of Europeans most likely have a vitamin D deficiency; many probably also have high blood pressure. Vitamin D is not a cure for hypertension, but its blood pressure-lowering effect may be able to help patients, especially in the winter months. It is important to stress that larger studies are necessary to confirm these findings, the scientists noted.

1.  Larsen T. et al. Vitamin D supplementation during winter months reduces central blood pressure in patients with hypertension. Presentation at the 22nd European Meeting on Hypertension and Cardiovascular Protection. April 2012.