Vitamin D responsible for difference in blood pressure between ‘Blacks’ and
April 27th, 2011 - 1:12 pm ICT by ANIIt is quite evident that high blood pressure is more common amongst Blacks than
Whites and persons with darker skin generally produce less vitamin D, primarily at
higher latitudes where UV radiation is less intense and the climate is cooler,
leading to less skin exposure.
The study has been conducted by Dr. Kevin Fiscella from the University of
Rochester School of Medicine, US and his colleagues.
The research suggest that low vitamin D level may contribute to elevated blood
pressure, which explains why thousands of Blacks die annually from heart disease
and stroke.
The researchers compared the average systolic blood pressure and blood levels of
vitamin D of Blacks and Whites taking data from the National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey 2001-2006 for 1,984 of the former and 5,156 of the later aged
20 years and above.
They found that overall, Blacks had significantly lower levels of vitamin D in their
blood than Whites and blood levels of vitamin D were linked to systolic blood
pressure.
“Our study adds to the growing body of evidence showing that low levels of vitamin
D among Blacks contribute to cardiovascular disparities. We also know that blood
pressure is highest among Blacks living in the US, where UV exposure is low.
Taken together, these findings point towards vitamin D deficiency as a potential
contributor to higher rates of vascular dysfunction, here hypertension among Blacks
living in the US. Further, work is required to determine whether vitamin D
supplementation could reduce these racial disparities.”
The study has been published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. (ANI)
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Tags: blacks and whites, body of evidence, dr kevin, findings point, fiscella, general internal medicine, health and nutrition, high blood pressure, higher latitudes, journal of general internal medicine, nutrition examination survey, racial disparities, rochester school, skin exposure, systolic blood pressure, university of rochester school of medicine, uv exposure, uv radiation, vascular dysfunction, vitamin d deficiency