The Relationships between Vitamin D Status and Blood Pressure in Korean Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

Background: Thevitamin D deficiency is worldwide concern. The vitamin D receptor is also expressed in vascular endothelial cell, which suggests that vitamin D may play a role in hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between vitamin D deficiency and blood pressure in postmenopausal women.Methods: We analyzed 1249 postmenopausal women 50-79 of age using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2011 database, which is a large and representative population-based survey.Results: Using a serum 25 (OH) D level of 15ng/ml as a cutoff, 35.3% of subjects were found to be vitamin D deficient. Body mass index was larger in subject with vitamin D deficiency (24.6 kg/m2, 95% CI 24.3-25.0 versus 24.1 kg/m2, 95% CI 23.9-24.4, p=0.013). After adjusting for age, body mass index, waist circumference, smoking, physical activity, subjects with vitamin D deficiency had higher systolic blood pressure (119.3 mmHg, 95% CI 113.9-124.8 versus 115.8 mmHg, 95% CI 111.2-120.3, p=0.016). However, there was no significant association between vitamin D deficiency and diastolic blood pressure (74.6 mmHg, 95% CI 71.6-77.5 versus 73.9 mmHg, 95% CI 71.0-76.9, p=0.365).Conclusion: In postmenopausal women, vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with increase of systolic blood pressure. Prospective studies and randomized clinical trials are warranted to determine the role of 25(OH) D in the development of hypertension.