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May contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease risk
A lack of vitamin D, even in healthy people, may lead to stiffer arteries and prevent blood vessels relaxing, a study has found.
The findings add to those of past studies, that low levels of vitamin D can negatively affect blood vessels and contribute to the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.
In the study, researchers from Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology tested for vitamin D in blood samples taken from 554 healthy adults, average age 47.
Of these, 14 per cent were considered deficient in Vitamin D, with concentrations less than 20ng/ml. Another 33 per cent had insufficient levels of vitamin D with less than 30ng/ml.
Even after adjusting for factors such as age, weight and cholesterol, which could influence the results, the people with lower vitamin D levels had stiffer arteries and impaired vascular function, the study found.
"We found that people with vitamin D deficiency had vascular dysfunction comparable to those with diabetes or hypertension," said Dr Ibhar Al Mheid, a cardiovascular researcher at Emory University School of Medicine, who led the study.
Low levels of vitamin D may affect the cells lining the blood vessels, known as endothelial cells, the researchers said. The cells help blood vessels to constrict or relax, and also help prevent blood clots which can lead to strokes and heart attacks.
"[Vitamin D] could be strengthening endothelial cells and the muscles surrounding the blood vessels.
"It could also be reducing the level of angiotensin, a hormone that drives increased blood pressure, or regulating inflammation," he said.
Volunteers who boosted their vitamin D concentrations to a normal level - either by taking supplements or getting ample sun exposure - also tended to have lower pressure, the study found.
Forty-two of the volunteers with vitamin D insufficiency experienced an average drop in blood pressure of 4.6 mm mercury after their vitamin D levels rose to a normal level.
Dr Kenneth Brigham, medical director of the Emory/Georgia Tech Centre for Health Discovery and Well Being said: "With his findings showing the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and vascular dysfunction, Dr Mheid has helped advance our understanding of the importance of Vitamin D in preventing a common health problem in aging adults."
The findings were presented yesterday at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology in New Orleans
News Source
A lack of vitamin D, even in healthy people, may lead to stiffer arteries and prevent blood vessels relaxing, a study has found.
The findings add to those of past studies, that low levels of vitamin D can negatively affect blood vessels and contribute to the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.
In the study, researchers from Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology tested for vitamin D in blood samples taken from 554 healthy adults, average age 47.
Of these, 14 per cent were considered deficient in Vitamin D, with concentrations less than 20ng/ml. Another 33 per cent had insufficient levels of vitamin D with less than 30ng/ml.
Even after adjusting for factors such as age, weight and cholesterol, which could influence the results, the people with lower vitamin D levels had stiffer arteries and impaired vascular function, the study found.
"We found that people with vitamin D deficiency had vascular dysfunction comparable to those with diabetes or hypertension," said Dr Ibhar Al Mheid, a cardiovascular researcher at Emory University School of Medicine, who led the study.
Low levels of vitamin D may affect the cells lining the blood vessels, known as endothelial cells, the researchers said. The cells help blood vessels to constrict or relax, and also help prevent blood clots which can lead to strokes and heart attacks.
"[Vitamin D] could be strengthening endothelial cells and the muscles surrounding the blood vessels.
"It could also be reducing the level of angiotensin, a hormone that drives increased blood pressure, or regulating inflammation," he said.
Volunteers who boosted their vitamin D concentrations to a normal level - either by taking supplements or getting ample sun exposure - also tended to have lower pressure, the study found.
Forty-two of the volunteers with vitamin D insufficiency experienced an average drop in blood pressure of 4.6 mm mercury after their vitamin D levels rose to a normal level.
Dr Kenneth Brigham, medical director of the Emory/Georgia Tech Centre for Health Discovery and Well Being said: "With his findings showing the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and vascular dysfunction, Dr Mheid has helped advance our understanding of the importance of Vitamin D in preventing a common health problem in aging adults."
The findings were presented yesterday at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology in New Orleans
News Source
