Role of Vitamin D in pre-hypertension and its association with cellular senescence

Abstract

Background: Reports suggest that, in Indian subcontinent, there is 70–100% deficiency of Vitamin D (Vit-D), playing pivotal role in higher risk of development of bone diseases and several noncommunicable disease conditions such as malignancies, metabolic diseases, and cardiovascular disease. Reports on role of Vit-D on cellular senescence in pre-hypertension (pre-HTN) were not available. Aims and Objectives: The aims of the study were to explore the relationship between Vit-D and cellular senescence measured using the enzyme telomerase in pre-HTN. Materials and Methods: This investigation was carried out in 41 pre-hypertensives and equal number of age- and gender-matched controls. Cellular senescence was measured by increased levels of telomerase and Vit-D was assessed with using commercially available ELISA assay kits. Results: Weight and BMI, Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse pressure (PP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), rate pressure product ( RPP) and telomerase levels were high and vi-D levels were low in pre-HTN group. Low levels of Vit-D were negatively correlated with telomerase, HR, SBP, and PP. Conclusion: We concluded that the lower Vit-D levels in pre-HTN could lead to derangements in cardiovascular homeostatic mechanism and enhance the speed of cellular senescence measured by telomerase.