title: Controversy in the link between vitamin D supplementation and hypertension.
abstract: Vitamin D affects a range of pathophysiological processes pertinent to the control of blood pressure, including endothelial function, inflammation and renin-angiotensin system activity. Observational data show a clear relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and both current blood pressure and incident hypertension. However, recent trial data have shown no significant effect of vitamin D supplementation on blood pressure, even at high doses, low vitamin D levels and in patients with high baseline blood pressure. Vitamin D might still benefit cardiovascular health through mechanisms other than blood pressure reduction, but data from large trials are required to show this. In the meantime, vitamin D has no place in controlling blood pressure either at the individual or the population level.
authors.affiliation: a Ageing and Health, Medical Research Institute, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK.
authors.forename: Louise A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Beveridge
authors.forename: Miles D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Witham
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D
keywords: cardiovascular; hypertension; meta-analysis; trials; vitamin D