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Vitamin D supplementation may lower blood pressure

Category: Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment

Individuals who have high blood pressure may want to consider blood testing to have their vitamin D levels checked. New research suggests that low levels of this nutrient may contribute to hypertension and supplementation may do as much to eliminate the problem as some drugs.

A team of Danish researchers presented findings at the recent European Society of Hypertension meeting indicating that vitamin D supplementation may be an effective way to lower blood pressure levels, according to the Daily Mail.

In the study, the researchers took blood tests to measure vitamin D and blood pressure readings from 112 patients at Holstebro Hospital in Denmark. Half the group was given active vitamin D supplements while the others received placebos.

The results showed that participants who received the supplements experienced significant reductions in blood pressure, while the researchers observed no such benefit in the placebo group, according to the news source.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that about one-third of adults in the U.S. have low vitamin D levels. Addressing this problem may help individuals avoid hypertension.