Plasma lipids and hypertension: response to calcium supplementation

Evidence from animal and human studies indicate that calcium supplementation may ameliorate two risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. We sought to characterize dietary fat consumption and plasma lipid profiles in hypertensive and normotensive subjects and plasma lipid responses to supplemental calcium. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover protocol was used to assess blood pressure and lipid response to 8 wk of 1000 mg of elemental calcium in 43 hypertensive and 27 normotensive subjects. Nutrient intakes and plasma lipids were measured repeatedly. Hypertensive female subjects consumed significantly less (p less than 0.05) phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium and had significantly higher triglycerides (p less than 0.04) and lower HDL-cholesterol (p less than 0.02) than did normotensive subjects. There were no significant changes in dietary plasma lipids with calcium supplementation. Mildly hyperlipidemic normotensive subjects had a significant decrease in total cholesterol (p less than 0.05). No significant changes in plasma lipids occurred with calcium supplementation in hypertensive subjects.