Confirmed hypertension and plasma 25(OH)D concentrations amongst elderly men

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Cardiovascular Health
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Experimental studies suggest vitamin D deficiency activates the renin-angiotensin system, potentially leading to hypertension.
• Previous epidemiological studies on vitamin D and hypertension have yielded inconsistent results, possibly due to reliance on office blood pressure measurements.
• No prior research has examined the link between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] status and confirmed hypertension using both office and 24-hour blood pressure monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between plasma 25(OH)D concentrations and the prevalence of confirmed hypertension in elderly Caucasian men.
• To address limitations of previous studies by employing both office and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements for hypertension classification.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 833 Caucasian men aged 71 ± 0.6 years.
• Plasma 25(OH)D concentrations were measured using high-pressure liquid chromatography mass spectrometry.
• Hypertension was confirmed using both supine office and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements, with participants having inconsistent classifications excluded.

Main Results:

• Men with plasma 25(OH)D concentrations below 37.5 nmol/L exhibited a threefold higher prevalence of confirmed hypertension compared to those with levels of 37.5 nmol/L or higher.
• The association remained significant after multivariable adjustment (odds ratio = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.0–11.0).

Conclusions:

• Low plasma 25(OH)D concentration is significantly associated with an increased prevalence of confirmed hypertension in elderly Caucasian men.
• These findings underscore the potential role of vitamin D status in hypertension development and management.