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Vitamin D Therapy Reduces Blood Pressure: A Case Series
Author(s) -
Judd Suzanne E,
Raiser Sara,
Kumari Meena,
Tangpricha Vin
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.112.6
Subject(s) - calcitriol , medicine , blood pressure , vitamin d and neurology , ambulatory blood pressure , placebo , plasma renin activity , ambulatory , vitamin , randomized controlled trial , endocrinology , urology , renin–angiotensin system , pathology , alternative medicine
We investigated the effect of vitamin D repletion on resolution of hypertension in non‐whites using a pilot study. Subjects were recruited from the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Atlanta, GA. Subjects received a total dose of 600,000 IU D3 or placebo (n=3) taken weekly either over 3 weeks (n=2) or 12 weeks (n=3) or were given 0.5 ug calcitriol (n=2) taken twice daily for one week. We used a 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure (24 aBP) monitor to assess blood pressure. The calcitriol group experienced a 13% reduction in mean systolic aBP while the placebo group only decreased by 4% (p<0.001). One week after conclusion of calcitriol therapy 24 aBP pressure returned to pretreatment levels. In pooled analysis of all subjects randomized to vitamin D3, the mean 24 aBP decreased by 5% (p<0.001) in the group using D3. Compared with placebo, this change was not significant. Sub‐analysis demonstrated the individual experiencing the largest reduction in blood pressure using vitamin D3 had the highest plasma renin activity. Calcitriol had a strong rapid effect on blood pressure reduction while the effect of D3 may be limited to individuals with high plasma renin activity. Vitamin D therapy may be an effective intervention for reducing blood pressure. Grant Funding Source ASN and CF Foundation