title: Calcium treatment of essential hypertension in elderly patients evaluated by 24 H monitoring.
abstract: We used 24-h monitoring of blood pressure (BP) to evaluate the effect of calcium supplementation on mild to moderate essential hypertension in elderly hospitalized patients for the first time in a controlled crossover study. The mean systolic and diastolic BP over a period of 24 h declined by 13.6 mm Hg (P less than .005) and 5.0 mm Hg (P less than .05) respectively in patients whose diet was supplemented with 1 g of elemental calcium in the form of oystershell electrolysate (AA calcium). Serum ionized calcium and urinary calcium and sodium excretion increased (serum Ca2+ 0.16 +/- 0.03 mEq/L, P less than .05; FECa 0.5 +/- 0.2%, P less than .05; FENa 0.4 +/- 0.1%, P less than .05) and plasma parathyroid hormone was suppressed (12.2 +/- 2.3 pg/mL, P less than .005). These data suggest that supplementation of dietary calcium may contribute to a reduction of BP in elderly patients with essential hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukase
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takata
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujimi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujita
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D012964:Sodium / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D012964:Sodium; D002118:Calcium