Latest Knowledge on the Role of Vitamin D in Hypertension.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to examine the current knowledge about vitamin D and its potential role in treating hypertension.
Results Summary
Human studies showed ambiguous and mixed results regarding vitamin D's direct antihypertensive effects or impact on the RAAS system, but supplementation alongside other antihypertensive agents yielded more promising outcomes. Vitamin D is considered a safe supplement with potential as an antihypertensive aid.
Population
Not specified (general human population implied, with reference to VDR knockout mice studies).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
vitamin D receptor (VDR) knockout | increase | renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activity | mice | - | show an increased | #1 |
vitamin D receptor (VDR) knockout | increase | hypertension | mice | - | show an increased | #2 |
vitamin D | no change | antihypertensive effect | humans | no direct effect | No direct antihypertensive effect was shown | #3 |
vitamin D | no change | human renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) | humans | no significant impact | no significant impact | #4 |
vitamin D with other antihypertensive agents | increase | antihypertensive effect | humans | - | reported more promising results | #5 |
Hypertension is the third leading cause of the global disease burden, and while populations live longer, adopt more sedentary lifestyles, and become less economically concerned, the prevalence of hypertension is expected to increase. Pathologically elevated blood pressure (BP) is the strongest risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and related disability, thus making it imperative to treat this disease. Effective standard pharmacological treatments, i.e., diuretics, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blocker (ARBs), beta-adrenergic receptor blockers (BARBs), and calcium channel blockers (CCBs), are available. Vitamin D (vitD) is known best for its role in bone and mineral homeostasis. Studies with vitamin D receptor (VDR) knockout mice show an increased renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activity and increased hypertension, suggesting a key role for vitD as a potential antihypertensive agent. Similar studies in humans displayed ambiguous and mixed results. No direct antihypertensive effect was shown, nor a significant impact on the human RAAS. Interestingly, human studies supplementing vitD with other antihypertensive agents reported more promising results. VitD is considered a safe supplement, proposing its great potential as antihypertensive supplement. The aim of this review is to examine the current knowledge about vitD and its role in the treatment of hypertension.