Research paper
Vitamin D status and hypertension: a review
Study answer
What this study found
Higher vitamin D status (25OHD) is associated with lower hypertension risk in observational studies. Prospective: RR 0.76 (0.63–0.90) for top vs bottom 25OHD; cross-sectional: OR 0.79 (0.73–0.87). Stronger associations in higher-quality studies and among younger females; no increased risk with older age or vitamin D deficiency. Causality not established due to observational design; Mendelian analyses suggest possible causal link (OR 0.92 per 10% increase in genetically instrumented 25OHD) and reduced SBP/DBP, but randomized trials of vitamin D supplementation show no consistent benefit for…
- Study & population
- Design: scoping systematic literature review and meta-analysis of observational studies (prospective and cross-sectional).
- Key limitation
- Observational design limits causal inference; substantial heterogeneity across studies; residual confounding and bias possible; variability in 25OHD assays (RIA, CLIA, HPLC) and seasonality; many studies cross-sectional (limited temporality); incomplete adjustment for BMI and other confounders; response rates…
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Open PDFOriginal abstract
Vitamin D is a steroid prohormone synthesized in the skin following ultraviolet exposure and also achieved through supplemental or dietary intake. While there is strong evidence for its role in maintaining bone and muscle health, there has been recen…