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Cholecalciferol administration blunts the systemic renin-angiotensin system in essential hypertensives with

Davide Carrara1, Matteo Bernini, Alessandra Bacca

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy.

Journal of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System : JRAAS
|January 4, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Vitamin D supplementation in hypertensive patients with low vitamin D levels reduced renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activity. This study demonstrates that correcting vitamin D deficiency can help manage blood pressure by impacting the RAS pathway.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Endocrinology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Vitamin D deficiency is linked to higher blood pressure and cardiovascular mortality.
  • Vitamin D supplementation may reduce cardiovascular events, potentially via renin-angiotensin system (RAS) suppression.
  • Limited interventional studies exist on vitamin D's effect on circulating RAS components.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of vitamin D supplementation on RAS activity in hypertensive patients with hypovitaminosis D.
  • To assess changes in blood pressure and key RAS components following vitamin D treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Fifteen drug-free essential hypertensive patients with low vitamin D levels received 25,000 IU of cholecalciferol weekly for two months.
  • RAS activity markers (angiotensinogen, renin, PRA, angiotensin II, aldosterone) and blood pressure were measured at baseline and study end.
  • Plasma 25(OH)D levels were monitored to confirm vitamin D repletion.

Main Results:

  • All patients achieved normalized plasma 25(OH)D levels after supplementation.
  • Significant reductions in plasma renin and aldosterone were observed (p < 0.05).
  • A non-significant decrease in PRA and angiotensin II was noted; no changes in angiotensinogen or blood pressure.

Conclusions:

  • Pharmacological correction of vitamin D deficiency in essential hypertensives can attenuate systemic RAS activity.
  • This suggests a potential mechanism for vitamin D in managing hypertension.
  • Further research is warranted to explore the clinical implications of these findings.
Abstract

Keywords:
Hypovitaminosis Dcardiovascular riskcholecalciferolhypertensionrenin–angiotensin–aldosterone system

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