Vitamin D & High Blood Pressure

More blood pressure news: If you’re running low on vitamin D, more than your bones are in trouble - you might also be at risk for hypertension.

A study published in the January 2008 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that low blood concentrations of vitamin D were associated with higher blood pressure in Caucasians (the same didn’t hold true in this study among African Americans). Researchers from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta checked blood pressure and vitamin D status among 7,699 adults. They found that 61 percent of the Caucasians and 92 percent of the African Americans participating in the study were vitamin D deficient, but that Caucasians whose levels of “D” were sufficient had a 20 percent lower increase in age-associated systolic blood pressure (the top number).

However, the study didn’t determine whether or not taking vitamin D supplements would lower blood pressure. The investigators did note that vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in the United States and that it is easily corrected by taking supplements or increasing your exposure to sunlight.

Source: DrWeil.com