Vitamin D supplements have been proven to provide many health benefits, but a new study found they can lower blood pressure among specific population subgroups.
A study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society found that vitamin D supplementation may help decrease blood pressure among older people suffering from obesity and those with low Vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D is essential in bone development and maintenance, and plays a vital role in the nervous, musculoskeletal, and immune systems, the Cleveland Clinic noted. Deficiency in the vitamin is linked to many common sicknesses, including heart diseases, hypertension, bone demineralization, and osteoporosis.
Researchers studied 221 older people with obesity who took vitamin D supplements daily over a year-- one group took 600 IU/ day, while the other had a higher dosage of 3,750 IU/day.
The Institutes of Medicine’s recommended dosage is 600 international units (IU) daily.
After a year, the participants showed a significant decrease in their blood pressure. However, comparing the data of the two groups, the researchers determined that those who had a higher dosage did not receive additional health benefits.
“Our study found vitamin D supplementation may decrease blood pressure in specific subgroups such older people, people with obesity, and possibly those with low vitamin D levels,” explained Dr. Ghada El-Hajj Fuleihan of the American University of Beirut Medical Center in Beirut, Lebanon.
Aside from lowering blood pressure levels, the Endocrine Society's Patient Summary Resource lists other benefits of Vitamin D supplementation:
Prevents nutritional rickets, or the weakening of the bone, in kids.
Lowers the risk of death in 75 years old and older.
Lowers the risk of pregnancy diseases and conditions, including intra-uterine mortality.
People with pre-diabetes also reduce the risk of progression to diabetes.
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