Association of low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and high arterial blood pressure in the elderly.
BACKGROUND
Vitamin D and calcium metabolism are involved in vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, endothelial function and blood pressure (BP) regulation. Their physiopathology has been a matter of intensive clinical investigation with variable and sometimes contradictory results. Vitamin D insufficiency is highly prevalent in the general population, particularly among the elderly. We evaluated the association between serum 25(OH)-D levels and arterial BP in this population.


METHODS
An epidemiological cross-sectional study was designed to analyse the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D ('D'AVIS' study) in our reference area. The study was performed on a representative random sample of the population over 64 years of age obtained from five primary health care areas. A medical record, arterial BP and biological analysis: serum 25(OH)-D, iPTH, creatinine, urea, calcium, albumin were obtained.


RESULTS
A total of 237 subjects (53% women), aged between 64 and 93 (mean 71.7 +/- 5.3), were evaluated. The mean serum 25(OH)-D levels were 17.21 +/- 7.57 ng/ml (interval 5-54; 86% had <25 ng/ml). The mean BP was 138.8 +/- 14/80 +/- 7.4 mmHg, and 46% were on antihypertensive treatment. A significant negative association was observed between serum 25(OH)-D levels and systolic (r = -0.153, P = 0.018) and diastolic BP (r = -0.152, P = 0.019). This association persisted after controlling for possible confounders in the multivariate analyses.


CONCLUSIONS
Low serum 25(OH)-D levels were inversely and independently associated with BP. Supplemental measures to prevent hypovitaminosis D in this population would be important, not only to protect the skeletal system but also for the possible beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system and the BP regulation.
Almirall
Jaume
J
Nephrology Service, UDIAT-CD, Departament de Medicina, Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí-Institut Universitari, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain. jalmirall@tauli.cat
Vaqueiro
Montserrat
M
Baré
Marisa L
ML
Anton
Esperanza
E
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology
D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D