Open AccessVitamin D Depletion Aggravates Hypertension and Target‐Organ Damage
Author(s) -
Andersen Louise Bjørkholt,
Przybyl Lukasz,
Haase Nadine,
VersenHöynck Frauke,
Qadri Fatimunnisa,
Jørgensen Jan Stener,
Sorensen Grith Lykke,
Fruekilde Palle,
Poglitsch Marko,
Szijarto István,
Gollasch Maik,
Peters Joerg,
Muller Dominik N.,
Christesen Henrik Thybo,
Dechend Ralf
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of the american heart association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.494
H-Index - 85
ISSN - 2047-9980
DOI - 10.1161/jaha.114.001417
Subject(s) - medicine , vitamin d and neurology , endocrinology , vitamin d deficiency , vitamin , renin–angiotensin system , kidney , creatinine , blood pressure
Background We tested the controversial hypothesis that vitamin D depletion aggravates hypertension and target‐organ damage by influencing renin. Methods and Results Four‐week‐old double‐transgenic rats ( dTGR ) with excess angiotensin (Ang) II production due to overexpression of the human renin ( hREN ) and angiotensinogen ( hAGT ) genes received vitamin D‐depleted (n=18) or standard chow (n=15) for 3 weeks. The depleted group had very low serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D levels (mean± SEM ; 3.8±0.29 versus 40.6±1.19 nmol/L) and had higher mean systolic BP at week 5 (158±3.5 versus 134.6±3.7 mm Hg, P <0.001), week 6 (176.6±3.3 versus 162.3±3.8 mm Hg, P <0.01), and week 7 (171.6±5.1 versus 155.9±4.3 mm Hg, P <0.05). Vitamin D depletion led to increased relative heart weights and increased serum creatinine concentrations. Furthermore, the mRNA s of natriuretic peptides, neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin, hREN , and rR en were increased by vitamin D depletion. Regulatory T cells in the spleen and in the circulation were not affected. Ang metabolites, including Ang II and the counter‐regulatory breakdown product Ang 1 to 7, were significantly up‐regulated in the vitamin D‐depleted groups, while ACE ‐1 and ACE ‐2 activities were not affected. Conclusions Short‐term severe vitamin D depletion aggravated hypertension and target‐organ damage in dTGR . Our data suggest that even short‐term severe vitamin D deficiency may directly promote hypertension and impacts on renin‐angiotensin system components that could contribute to target‐organ damage. The findings add to the evidence that vitamin D deficiency could also affect human hypertension.