Vitamin D and calcium could lower blood pressure in overweight older adults, if they have a BMI (body mass index) greater than 30, suggests a study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
The health experts say Vitamin D deficiency is common across the globe and has been associated with cardiovascular disease, immunological diseases.
The study, Blood Pressure Decreases in Overweight Elderly Individuals on Vitamin D, found SBP (systolic blood pressure) and DBP (diastolic blood pressure) decreased significantly among participants. Similar trends were observed in a low-dose group, but did not achieve statistical significance.
When it comes to the dosage, they say “the total daily intake of vitamin D in the low and high-dose groups was 600 IU/day and 3750 IU/day, respectively”. The study later says that the low dose group were given a placebo pill. They further explain: “In participants with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30, SBP decreased significantly in both treatment groups whereas DBP significantly decreased in the high-dose group only.”
The results show that both supplements seem to decrease SBP, which is the top number in a blood pressure reading as well as the DBP which is on the bottom. However, they noted that more is not necessarily better. Looking into their results, they said that “Vitamin D and calcium decrease SBP and DBP in overweight older individuals, but more is not necessarily better. This effect is seen in individuals with BMI greater than 30, in hypertensive patients, and seems to be largely independent of dose.”
Adults aged 19 to 64 and over need 700mg of calcium a day and a children from the age of one year and adults need 10 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin D a day.
