Vitamin D and Blood Pressure Among U.S. Adults: A Cross-sectional Examination by Race/Ethnicity and Gender
American Journal of Preventive, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2017.07.006
Abhishek Vishnu, Abhishek Vishnu , Abhishek Vishnu, Vasudha Ahuja,
With every 4 ng higher vitamin D, systolic blood pressure in US decreased by
| All | 0.19 mmHg |
| Females | 0.25 mmHg |
| non-Hispanic whites | 0.22 mmHg |
| non-Hispanic white females | 0.26 mmHg |
| non-Hispanic black females | 0.65 mmHg |
That is: Black females had 2.6 X more improvement than white
Items in both categories Hypertension and Dark Skin are listed here:
- Increased health problems in blacks is similar to that of low vitamin D whites (John Singleton Stroke)
- Hypertension is more likely in those with darker skins (low vitamin D) 2017
- Vitamin D different relationship between whites and blacks for bone and plaque – June 2012
- Vitamin D accounts for 25 percent of the racial differences in blood pressure – Oct 2011
- Hypothesis that lack of vitamin D increases blood pressure in blacks – July 2010
Introduction
The cross-sectional association of serum vitamin D levels with blood pressure and hypertension status among a representative sample of U.S. adults was examined.
Methods
Participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2001 to 2010 were included in these analyses. Harmonizing of the vitamin D levels from 2001 to 2006 with vitamin D measurement from 2007 to 2010 was done using regression equations released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Use of vitamin D supplements was assessed for all participants. Statistical analyses included examination of linear association of vitamin D levels with blood pressure and non-linear cubic splines with hypertension in overall population, by gender, and by race/ethnicity.
Results
With every 10 nmol/L higher vitamin D, systolic blood pressure decreased by 0.19 mmHg in this population (p<0.01). In fully adjusted stratified analyses, this association was present among females (–0.25 mmHg, p<0.01) and non-Hispanic whites (0.22 mmHg, p<0.01). After race/ethnic and gender stratification, this association was observed among non-Hispanic white females (0.26 mmHg, p=0.01), non-Hispanic black females (0.65 mmHg, p=0.02), and marginally significant among Hispanic males (0.33 mmHg, p=0.07). Non-parametric assessment with cubic splines show that vitamin D has an inverse association with odds of hypertension up to 100 nmol/L with no apparent benefit at higher levels in overall population, and even lower threshold levels of vitamin D in non-Hispanic blacks (50 nmol/L) and Hispanic Americans (70 nmol/L).
Conclusions
Significant race/ethnic and gender differences exist in the association of vitamin D and systolic blood pressure. Odds for hypertension are reduced significantly at higher vitamin D levels, but this benefit plateaus at very high vitamin D levels.