Private MD News

Study: Vitamin D deficiency could lead to high blood pressure

Updated: 2009-09-28 22:03:20 CST Category: Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment

by Brendan Missett

Women with low blood levels of vitamin D are three times as likely to have high blood pressure 15 years later, new research suggests.

A study conducted at the University of Michigan School of Public Health studied 559 women in 1993 for vitamin D deficiency, defined as less than 80 nanomoles per liter of blood, Health Day news reports.

Initially, the study revealed that 80 percent of the women were deficient in vitamin D intake, while 6 percent had high blood pressure.
While no link was established at the time, researchers reviewed data collected in 2008 showing that 25 percent of the vitamin D deficient women had high blood pressure and determined that the incidence of high blood pressure was three times higher for women who had vitamin D deficiency in 1993.

Researchers noted that while they've established an association between the two conditions, there is no evidence that increased vitamin D intake during the 15-year period would have affected the results, as the study did not monitor the women's intake of the so-called sunshine vitamin.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine reports that the 25-hydroxy vitamin D test is the most accurate way to measure the amount of the nutrient in the body.

Related Articles from Private MD:

• Studies may encourage vitamin D testing in pregnant women
  
• Research grant may spur increases in vitamin D testing in children
  
• Doctor: Vitamin D testing a good thing
  
• Coronary artery calcification may be detectable through vitamin D tests
  
• Link between vitamin D and calcium in children unclear
  

Subscribe to Private MD Health News RSS Feed:

Visit the Health News Archive: Click Here

Questions about online blood testing or how to order a lab test? Click here to get started or call us toll-free at 1.877.283.7882. Our certified professionals are ready to assist you.