Dietary calcium and blood pressure--a critical review of the literature.
Research interest in the relationship between dietary calcium and blood pressure stemmed from observations that in some cases hypertension occurs concomitant with calcium abnormalities, and from the search for nonpharmacological ways to prevent or control hypertension. A possible association between dietary calcium and blood pressure has been the subject of more than 50 epidemiological studies in the last 15 years. This review encompasses a brief description of the sources of dietary calcium, the distribution of calcium in body compartments, and its physiological role in the regulation of blood pressure. The literature on calcium abnormalities in hypertensive patients, cross-sectional and prospective epidemiological studies, and clinical trials on dietary calcium and blood pressure is reviewed. Possible mechanisms of the hypotensive action of dietary calcium are evaluated. While cross-sectional studies provided considerable evidence of an inverse association between levels of dietary calcium and blood pressure, results of clinical trials and of the small number of prospective studies are inconsistent. However, it appears that calcium supplementation can reduce blood pressure in both subpopulations of normotensives and some hypertensives. Before any recommendation is made to increase dietary calcium to prevent hypertension, further investigations are needed to better define characteristics of those subgroups which may respond to such intervention.
Kristal-Boneh
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Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Occupational Health & Rehabilitation Institute, Raanan, Israel.
Green
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MS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D002136:Calcium, Dietary