Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2018 and is preserved for historical interest. Some recommendations, regulations, and scientific evidence have changed since it was written. It reflects the research and perspectives available at that time.
In a study appearing in the journal Hypertension (2007 Mar 19—epublished version), plasma vitamin D (25[OH]D) levels were monitored in a group of 1,811 subjects for four to eight years and another group of 115,919 were monitored for 16-18 years. The researchers found an inverse proportion between vitamin D levels and the occurrence of hypertension. Men with plasma 25(OH)D levels less than 15 ng/mL (vitamin D deficiency) showed more than a six-fold increased risk of hypertension compared to men with 25(OH)D levels at or above 30 ng/mL. Women with vitamin D deficiency had double the risk of being hypertensive. There may well be an association between vitamin D deficiency and high blood pressure.
