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Calcium and hypertension
1Department of Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201.
Insights
Maintaining normal calcium metabolism is linked to lower blood pressure. Dietary calcium may help lower blood pressure in some essential hypertension patients, particularly those with calcium deficiency.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Human Hypertension
- Calcium Metabolism
Background:
- Cardiovascular physiology is complex, with no single factor solely determining elevated blood pressure.
- Growing evidence suggests a link between normal calcium metabolism and lower arterial pressure.
- Hypertension studies indicate calcium's role in blood pressure regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the association between calcium metabolism and blood pressure.
- To evaluate dietary calcium supplementation as a nonpharmacologic treatment for essential hypertension.
- To investigate the potential relationship between salt sensitivity, calcium homeostasis, and hormonal regulation in hypertension.
Main Methods:
- Epidemiologic observations
- Studies in experimental hypertension
- Studies in human hypertension
- Dietary calcium supplementation trials
Main Results:
- Maintenance of normal calcium metabolism is associated with lower arterial pressure.
- Dietary calcium supplementation can effectively lower blood pressure in some essential hypertension patients, especially those with calcium deficiency.
- Preliminary evidence suggests a link between salt sensitivity and disordered calcium homeostasis in some hypertensive individuals.
Conclusions:
- Normal calcium metabolism is important for maintaining lower arterial pressure.
- Dietary calcium supplementation is a potential nonpharmacologic intervention for specific hypertensive patients.
- Further research is needed to clarify the role of calcium in salt sensitivity and hormonal regulation of blood pressure.
Abstract:
Although the complexities of cardiovascular physiology preclude any one factor from assuming the role of the key determinant of elevated blood pressure, the large body of evidence that is accumulating based on epidemiologic observation and studies in experimental and human hypertension support the contention that maintenance of normal calcium metabolism is associated with a lower arterial pressure. Dietary calcium supplementation in human essential hypertension appears to be an effective nonpharmacologic means of lowering blood pressure in some patients, especially those with evidence of a calcium-deficient state. In addition, preliminary evidence has raised questions as to whether a relationship exists between salt sensitivity and disordered calcium homeostasis in some hypertensive patients, and whether there is an important role for calcium in the regulation of other hormonal systems involved in blood pressure regulation.