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(Hypertension. 2008;52:803.)
© 2008 American Heart Association, Inc.

Editorial Commentaries

Vitamin D and Hypertension

Does the Women’s Health Initiative Solve the Question?

From the Wageningen University, Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Correspondence to Johanna Marianna Geleijnse, Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, PO Box 8129, 6700 EV Wageningen, The Netherlands. E-mail marianne.geleijnse@wur.nl

An extract of the first 250 words of the full text is provided, because this article has no abstract.

Vitamin D has long been known for its important role in bone mineralization and maintenance of calcium homeostasis via the calcium-parathyroid hormone-vitamin D axis.¹ Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), the natural form of vitamin D, is produced in the skin in response to UV-B light. Less than 10% of vitamin D3 is obtained from dietary sources, mainly oily fish and fortified foods. Vitamin D₃ is converted in the liver into hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D) and subsequently converted in the kidney into its biologically active form, 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D. When serum calcium drops, parathyroid hormone increases, which results in osteoclast activity and release of calcium from bone. Parathyroid hormone also acts on the kidney to decrease urinary calcium excretion and stimulates the conversion of 25(OH)D to 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D. In turn, 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D increases intestinal calcium absorption.¹

The "stock form" 25(OH)D has a half-life of 2 to 3 weeks and is considered a better marker of vitamin D status than 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D, which has a half-life of only 1 to 5 hours. Circulating levels of 25(OH)D >75 nmol/L, or 30 ng/mL, are considered optimal for human health.² Vitamin D status is inversely associated with age, skin pigmentation, application of sunscreen, and adiposity. In case of deficiency, supplemental or dietary intake of 1000 IU of vitamin D3 daily may be needed to achieve optimal levels of 25(OH)D.² A meta-analysis of 16 studies showed that serum 25(OH)D increases by 1 to 2 nmol/L for every 2.5-µg (100 IU) increase in supplemental vitamin D3 intake.³

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