Low Vitamin D Levels = Major Cause of Hypertension
High blood pressure or hypertension is a primary contributing factor in the development of cardiovascular disease and death from a heart attack. Heart disease is the leading killer of men and women in industrialized countries, yet millions have no idea they have elevated blood pressure readings that place them at increased risk of illness and an early demise. Nutrition researchers have identified a wide array of natural compounds and nutrients that benefit heart health, but only one stands out above all the others: vitamin D.
Small Increases in Vitamin D Blood Levels Can Significantly Lower High Blood Pressure Risks
A research group from the University College London in the UK has published the results of their work described as the world’s largest study to examine the link between vitamin D levels and hypertension. Released in the European Society of Human Genetics, scientists have found that low levels of Vitamin D can be a major cause of hypertension. The study included a meta-analysis of 35 related works, including more than 155,000 participants from different parts of Europe and North America.
The scientists conducting this study noted that vitamin D deficiency is a very common problem in the Western world due to increasing obesity rates known to cause Vitamin D deficiency. Researchers used genetic variations, called single nucleotide polymorphisms (or SNPS), as markers to measure the participant’s vitamin D levels and test for an association with blood pressure.
The team found that for every ten percent increase in vitamin D3 blood concentrations, the risk of developing hypertension decreased by 8.1 percent. Many people clinically depressed vitamin D concentrations, often thirty to fifty percent lower than optimal, placing them at extraordinary risk for high blood pressure and related vascular disorders. Simple elevating vitamin D blood saturation levels from 30 to 50 ng/mL would equate to lowering the risk of becoming hypertensive by more than half. The study authors concluded that their study “strongly suggests that some cases of cardiovascular disease “could be prevented through vitamin D supplements or food fortification.”
People obtain vitamin D by consuming foods, through supplements or by exposure to the sun. Food sources are sparse and unreliable, and our ability to convert vitamin D through sun exposure becomes severely limited after the age of 40. Daily supplementation is inexpensive and proven to raise blood levels in a relatively consistent manner. Most adults require 2,000 to 5,000 IU each day, and will need to have a simple 25(OH)D blood test twice a year to ensure optimal readings of 50 to 70 ng/mL are achieved.
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