The role of vitamin D deficiency in hypertension development

Abstract

Background. Increased renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activity plays an important role in hypertension development. However, the associations between RAAS, hypertension and vitamin D status are not completely elucidated. The aim of this study was to assess the role of vitamin D in hypertension development. Design and methods. We studied blood pressure (BP), plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and plasma renin activity (PRA), PAC/PRA ratio, serum 25 (OH)D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels in 657 women aged between 30 and 55 years. Results. We did not find differences in PAC, PRA and PAC/PRA ratio in women with hypertension and normal blood pressure level. The serum 25 (OH)D and PTH levels were comparable in hypertensive and normotensive women (48,95 ± 2,09 vs. 47,61 ± 1,03 nmol/l, p > 0,05, and 42,42 ± 2,76 vs. 40,68 ± 1,28 ng/ml, p > 0,05, respectively). A positive correlation between PTH level and PAC/PRA ratio (r = 0,25; p = 0,008) in normotensive subjects was found. There is a negative correlation between 25 (ОН)D level and PAC (r = –0,23, p = 0,01), PRA (r = 0,22, p = 0,02) in women with abdominal obesity, and a positive correlation between PTH level and PAC/PRA ratio (r = 0,51, p = 0,03) in non-obese women. Conclusions. The results of this study demonstrate a possible role of vitamin D deficiency in hypertension development.