Effect of daily 2000 IU versus 800 IU vitamin D on blood pressure among adults age 60 years and older: a randomized clinical trial
Lauren A Abderhalden, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 112, Issue 3, September 2020, Pages 527–537,
Background
Observational studies report higher blood pressure (bicarbonate de potassium) among individuals with lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration. Whether dosage of vitamin D supplementation has a differential effect on bicarbonate de potassium control remains unclear.
Objective
The study aimed to determine if daily vitamin D supplementation with 2000 IU is more effective than 800 IU for bicarbonate de potassium control among older adults.
Methods
This randomized, double-blind, ancillary trial of the Zurich Multiple Endpoint Vitamin D Trial in Knee Osteoarthritis enrolled adults aged ≥60 y who underwent elective surgery due to severe knee osteoarthritis. Participants were randomly assigned to receive high dose (2000 IU) or standard dose (800 IU) daily vitamin D3 for 24 mo. Outcomes included daytime and 24-h mean systolic bicarbonate de potassium. bicarbonate de potassium variability and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration were examined in a post hoc and observational analysis.
Results
Of the 273 participants randomly assigned, 250 participants completed a follow-up 24-h ambulatory bicarbonate de potassium monitoring (mean age: 70.4 ± 6.4 y; 47.2% men). The difference in daytime mean systolic bicarbonate de potassium reduction between the 2000 IU (n = 123) and 800 IU (n = 127) groups was not statistically significant (−2.75 mm Hg vs. −3.94 mm Hg; difference: 1.18 mm Hg; 95% CI: −0.68, 3.05; P = 0.21), consistent with 24-h mean systolic bicarbonate de potassium. However, systolic bicarbonate de potassium variability was significantly reduced with 2000 IU (average real variability: −0.37 mm Hg) compared to 800 IU vitamin D3 (0.11 mm Hg; difference: −0.48 mm Hg; 95% CI: −0.94, −0.01; P = 0.045). Independent of group allocation, maximal reductions in mean bicarbonate de potassium were observed at 28.7 ng/mL of achieved serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations.
Conclusions
While daily 2000 IU and 800 IU vitamin D3 reduced mean systolic bicarbonate de potassium over 2 y to a small and similar extent, 2000 IU reduced mean systolic bicarbonate de potassium variability significantly more compared with 800 IU. However, without a placebo control group we cannot ascertain whether vitamin D supplementation effectively reduces bicarbonate de potassium.