Vitamin D for High Blood Pressure?

 

A 2013 study published in the journal Hypertension suggests that taking high doses of Vitamin D may help to lower and control blood pressure in African-American populations. The prevalence of hypertension in African-Americans in the United States is among the highest in the world. More than 40 percent of non-Hispanic African-American men and women have high blood pressure. For African-Americans, high blood pressure also develops earlier in life and is usually more severe. 

Vitamin D deficiency has increasingly been recognized in the general population and especially in African Americans whose deep skin pigmentation makes vitamin D photosynthesis inefficient. In the study, 283 black men and women were randomly assigned to groups taking either a placebo or 1,000IU, 2,000IU or 4,000IU daily doses of Vitamin D for two years.

After three months of daily supplementation, systolic blood pressure (the first, higher number) dropped by 1.4mmHG for every 1,000IU study participants took. While this study does not proved that Vitamin D was the agent lowering participants blood pressure, it is suggestive. 

Have your Vitamin D levels measured at your next physical and speak with your doctor about supplementation, if needed, to raise your blood level of Vitamin D to normal levels. Supplementation of 600IU daily (800IU if you are over age 70) is recommended for everyone, especially in winter.