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A prospective study of plasma vitamin D metabolites, vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms, and risk of hypertension in men

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Abstract

Purpose

Laboratory studies have suggested that vitamin D inadequacy may be implicated in development of hypertension. Evidence from epidemiologic studies remains limited. We aim to examine the prospective associations of circulating vitamin D metabolites, vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms, and their interaction with risk of hypertension.

Methods

We conducted prospective analyses among 1,211 US men that were free of baseline hypertension and had baseline plasma 25hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D) or 1,25dihydroxy-vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) measured and VDR BsmI or FokI polymorphisms genotyped.

Results

During 15.3-year follow-up, 695 men developed incident hypertension. After multivariable adjustment, the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % CIs for hypertension across increasing quartiles of plasma vitamin D metabolites were 1.00 (ref), 0.94 (0.69–1.27), 0.69 (0.50–0.96), and 0.82 (0.60–1.13) for 25(OH)D (p, trend: 0.43), and 1.00, 0.92 (0.66–1.27), 1.12 (0.82–1.54), and 1.19 (0.86–1.63) for 1,25(OH)2D (p, trend: 0.16). Compared with carriers of VDR BsmI bb, carriers of bB or BB had a HR of 1.25 (1.04–1.51) for hypertension. For VDR FokI polymorphism, compared with carriers of FF and Ff combined, carriers of ff had a HR of 1.32 (1.03–1.70). The relation between plasma 25(OH)D and risk of hypertension did not differ by VDR BsmI and FokI polymorphisms.

Conclusions

In a prospective cohort of men, we found suggestive evidence for an inverse association between plasma 25(OH)D and risk of hypertension. We also found associations between VDR BsmI and FokI polymorphisms with hypertension risk. More research is needed to further determine the role of vitamin D in hypertension prevention.

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Abbreviations

RAS:

Renin-angiotensin system

BP:

Blood pressure

SBP:

Systolic blood pressure

DBP:

Diastolic blood pressure

VDR:

Vitamin D receptor

25(OH)D:

25Hydroxy-vitamin D

1,25(OH)2D:

1,25Dihydroxy-vitamin D

PHS:

Physicians’ Health Study

HR:

Hazard ratio

BMI:

Body mass index

NHS:

Nurses’ Health Study

WHI:

Women’s Health Initiative

LD:

Linkage disequilibrium

VNTR:

Variable number of tandem repeat

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the crucial contributions of the entire staff of the PHS. We are also indebted to the 22,071 dedicated and committed participants randomized into the PHS starting in 1982. The study was supported in part by grants (CA 097193, CA 042182, CA 058684, CA 034944, CA 040360, HL 026490, HL 034595, HL 095649) from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD. Dr. Wang was supported by a career development grant HL095649 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institutes.

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 900 Commonwealth Avenue East, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Lu Wang, JoAnn E. Manson, Julie E. Buring, J. Michael Gaziano & Howard D. Sesso

  2. Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Jing Ma

  3. Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    JoAnn E. Manson, Julie E. Buring & Howard D. Sesso

  4. Division of Aging, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Julie E. Buring, J. Michael Gaziano & Howard D. Sesso

  5. Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA

    J. Michael Gaziano

  6. Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA

    J. Michael Gaziano

Authors
  1. Lu Wang
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  2. Jing Ma
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Correspondence to Lu Wang.

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Wang, L., Ma, J., Manson, J.E. et al. A prospective study of plasma vitamin D metabolites, vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms, and risk of hypertension in men. Eur J Nutr 52, 1771–1779 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-012-0480-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-012-0480-8

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