A new study shows that taking vitamin D supplements may help lower blood pressure in older adults who are overweight or obese.
But taking more than the standard daily amount does not give extra benefits. The research was published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society and focused on whether vitamin D can support heart health.
Vitamin D deficiency is common around the world. Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to many health problems, such as heart disease, weak immune function, infections, and certain types of cancer.
Low vitamin D levels have also been connected to a higher chance of having high blood pressure. But until now, scientists weren’t sure if taking vitamin D could actually help control blood pressure.
This new study gives some answers. The research team was led by Dr. Ghada El-Hajj Fuleihan from the American University of Beirut Medical Center. They studied 221 older adults who had obesity. For one year, these people took either the recommended amount of vitamin D (600 International Units, or IU) or a higher dose (3,750 IU) every day.
The results showed that vitamin D helped lower blood pressure in these older adults. However, the higher dose didn’t lead to any added improvements. In other words, more vitamin D did not mean more benefits. The standard dose worked just fine.
The benefits were especially clear in older adults with obesity and those who had low vitamin D levels at the start. These groups seemed to get the most out of the vitamin D supplements, showing that the right amount of this vitamin can make a difference.
This study also helps explain why past research on vitamin D and blood pressure has had mixed results. Earlier studies may not have focused on specific groups of people, like older adults with obesity, who are more likely to benefit.
Along with Dr. Fuleihan, scientists from Pennsylvania State University and Alfaisal University in Saudi Arabia also helped with the research. Their findings add to a growing body of evidence that vitamin D is important for heart health, especially in people who already face higher risks.
In short, if you’re an older adult with obesity, taking the recommended 600 IU of vitamin D per day may help lower your blood pressure. There’s no need to take higher doses unless your doctor advises it. This supports the idea of personalized nutrition—getting just the right amount of a nutrient, not too little and not too much.
If you’re interested in controlling blood pressure, also consider looking into other helpful studies. For example, some research shows that eating the right diet can lower blood pressure. Taking 3 grams of omega-3s a day may also help. Drinking tea or coffee, or using certain kinds of olive oil, may affect your blood pressure too.
These findings remind us that small, everyday choices—like getting enough vitamin D—can have a big impact on our health as we age.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about blood pressure drug that may increase risk of sudden cardiac arrest, and these teas could help reduce high blood pressure.
For more health information, please see recent studies about nutrient that could strongly lower high blood pressure, and results showing this novel antioxidant may help reverse blood vessels aging by 20 years.
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