Mechanisms of calcium's effects on blood pressure

Manipulations of dietary calcium have been repeatedly shown to alter blood pressure in animal models of human essential hypertension. Supplemental dietary calcium lowers blood pressure, whereas restricted calcium diets tend to elevate blood pressure. The mechanisms responsible have not been identified, but numerous possibilities have been proposed. Many of the proposals have attempted to relate dietary calcium to calcium metabolism in vascular smooth muscle and altered vascular tone. Other proposals have focused on neural, hormonal, and renal effects of dietary calcium. In this article, mechanisms through which elevations in extracellular calcium levels might influence intracellular calcium levels are explored. Also examined are the potential roles of calcium regulating hormones, sympathetic nervous system, and electrolyte interactions in modifying blood pressure.