[Calcium and blood pressure].
The regulation of blood pressure is complex with several organs being involved. Intracellular calcium plays a crucial role in the regulation of cardiovascular functions: An increased influx of calcium into the vascular smooth muscle cells leads to an augmental muscular tone and therefore to an increased vascular resistance and rise in blood pressure. Parathormone plays a permissive role since it regulates the calcium-influx into the cells and thus increases the vasoconstrictive effect. There is a positive correlation between parathormone and blood pressure, present in primary as well as secondary hyperparathyroidism. Moreover, patients with essential hypertension have high parathormone levels already before hypertension is diagnosed. A calcium-rich diet (> 1000 mg calcium daily) slightly decreases blood pressure. This positive effect is due to parathormone suppression with a subsequently decreased calcium content in the vascular smooth muscle cells. A calcium-rich diet inhibits lipogenesis in the fat tissue; thus additionally improving the cardiovascular risk profile.
Pädiatrische Nephrologie, Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Bern. giacomo.simonetti@insel.ch
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Simonetti
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Mohaupt
D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050155:Lipogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D008066:Lipolysis / Q000502:physiology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology
D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D002118:Calcium