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Blood pressure response to dietary calcium intervention in humans
H Mikami1, T Ogihara, Y Tabuchi
1Department of Geriatric Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Insights
Calcium supplementation may lower blood pressure in some individuals, but responses vary. Further research is needed to understand the inconsistent effects of calcium on blood pressure and hypertension.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Cardiovascular Health
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Dietary calcium deficiency is linked to hypertension development.
- Human trials investigating calcium intervention effects on blood pressure are reviewed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review human trial findings on calcium intervention.
- To assess blood pressure and biochemical variable responses to calcium supplementation.
Main Methods:
- Review of human clinical trials on calcium intervention.
- Analysis of blood pressure and biochemical data from supplemented subjects.
Main Results:
- Calcium supplementation decreased blood pressure in some hypertensive and normotensive subjects.
- Increased blood pressure was observed in some hypertensive patients receiving calcium.
- Blood pressure responses were variable and unpredictable based on routine biochemical parameters.
Conclusions:
- Inconsistent blood pressure responses to calcium supplementation may be due to subject background or trial design.
- Further studies are necessary to elucidate the hypotensive effects of calcium supplementation.
Abstract:
Epidemiological and experimental studies have suggested that dietary calcium deficiency may lead to the development of hypertension. This article reviews findings in human trials on calcium intervention with special reference to the responses of blood pressure and biochemical variables. Calcium supplementation consistently resulted in decreased blood pressure in a subset of hypertensive and normotensive subjects, but led to increased blood pressure in some hypertensive patients. The variable blood pressure responses to calcium supplementation could not be predicted on the basis of routine biochemical parameters and appeared to be due to differences in the backgrounds of the subjects and/or the design and size of the trials. It is concluded that further studies are required on the hypotensive effect of calcium supplementation.