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Cardiovascular effect of oral calcium supplementation: echocardiographic study in patients with essential
1The Second Department of Internal Medicine, Ehime University School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan.
Insights
Oral calcium supplementation improved cardiovascular function in hypertensive patients. It enhanced left ventricular diastolic function and systemic arterial compliance, offering a potential dietary approach for managing hypertension.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Nutritional Science
- Hypertension Research
Background:
- Oral calcium (Ca) supplementation is known to mildly reduce blood pressure.
- Essential hypertension affects cardiovascular system function, including left ventricular function and arterial compliance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of oral calcium supplementation on cardiovascular parameters in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.
Main Methods:
- Twelve patients with essential hypertension received 1.0 g/day of oral Ca for one week.
- Left ventricular function and systemic arterial compliance were assessed using echocardiography before and after supplementation.
- Evaluated parameters included left ventricular contractility, afterload, preload, myocardial relaxation, and arterial compliance.
Main Results:
- Left ventricular contractility and afterload remained unchanged.
- A significant decrease in preload (end-diastolic volume) was observed.
- Significant improvements were noted in myocardial relaxation, atrioventricular net compliance, and systemic arterial compliance.
Conclusions:
- Oral calcium supplementation effectively improved impaired left ventricular diastolic function in hypertensive patients.
- Calcium supplementation also enhanced systemic arterial compliance, suggesting a beneficial cardiovascular effect.
Abstract:
Oral calcium (Ca) supplementation mildly reduces blood pressure. The authors studied the effects of Ca supplementation on the cardiovascular system in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. Twelve patients aged forty-nine to seventy years (7 men and 5 women, mean age with 60.3 +/- 7.2 years) participated. The investigators orally administered Ca (1.0 g/day for one week) under hospitalization, adding to a dietary intake of Ca (0.6 g/day). Left ventricular function and systemic arterial compliance were evaluated by M-mode and pulsed Doppler echocardiographies before and after seven days of Ca supplementation. Left ventricular contractility and afterload were not changed. Preload indicated by end-diastolic volume was significantly decreased after Ca supplementation (109.6 +/- 8.5 vs 107.3 +/- 8.2 mL, P < 0.05). Myocardial relaxation evaluated by IIa-mitral valve opening time (87.7 +/- 6.7 vs 82.1 +/- 6.2 ms, P < 0.01) and maximum descending rate of the left ventricular posterior wall (10.6 +/- 1.0 vs 12.4 +/- 1.0 cm/s, P < 0.01), and atrioventricular net compliance assessed by the descending slope of rapid filling flow in the left ventricular inflow tract (2.63 +/- 0.24 vs 2.26 +/- 0.17 m/s2, P <0.05), as well as systemic arterial compliance (2.05 +/- 0.20 vs 2.73 +/- 0.26 mL/mmHg, P < 0.01) were significantly improved by Ca supplementation. Oral Ca supplementation improved the disturbed left ventricular diastolic function and systemic arterial compliance.