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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #242141
Title: Association of vitamin D deficiency with hypertension in uninsured women

Author
item CHANDANA, SREENIVASA - Michigan State University
item KOCHARLA, LAKSHMI - University Of Cincinnati
item HARRIS, SUSAN - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item KAKARALA, RADHIKA - Michigan State University

Submitted to: Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/5/2009
Publication Date: 6/22/2009
Citation: Chandana, S.R., Kocharla, L.P., Harris, S.S., Kakarala, R.R. 2009. Association of vitamin D deficiency with hypertension in uninsured women. Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice. 3:43-52.

Interpretive Summary: Vitamin D deficiency is an epidemic in the United States. Uninsured women are at high risk due to a lower intake of vitamin D and limited sun exposure. We examined the association between vitamin D deficiency and hypertension in 96 uninsured women at a county free medical clinic in urban Michigan. Eighty-five % of vitamin D deficient patients compared with 27% on non-deficient patients had hypertension. In both treated hypertensive patients and non-hypertensive patients, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were inversely associated with blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, the clinical indicator of vitamin D status. These results demonstrate a high prevalence of hypertension in vitamin D deficient, uninsured women.

Technical Abstract: Vitamin D deficiency is an epidemic in the United States. Uninsured women are at high risk due to a lower intake of vitamin D and limited sun exposure. We examined the association between vitamin D deficiency and hypertension in 96 uninsured women at a County Free Medical Clinic in urban Michigan. Questionnaires were used to obtain information about demographics, medical history including hypertension, and dietary habits. Measurements including blood pressure and serum 25(OH)D level were also collected. Prevalence of hypertension was higher in subjects with 25(OH)D less than 50nmol/l compared with others (85% vs. 27.3%, p = 0.014). For every 1 nmol/L decrease in serum 25(OH)D, there was an increase in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 0.20 (p =0.006) and 0.13 (p =0.003) mm of Hg respectively. These results demonstrate a high prevalence of hypertension in the vitamin D deficient, uninsured female population.