Source: AARP Bulletin May 2013 by Nissa Simon
Here’s what we know: Research has linked high blood pressure with low levels of vitamin D. Older people have significantly higher rates of high blood pressure and lower levels of vitamin D. So do black adults in general. If you’re both older and black, take note.
Recent studies suggest that vitamin D supplements may help. In one three-month study of 50 black adults ages 43 to 60, blood pressure dropped the most in those taking the highest dose of vitamin D.
“The gains were modest, but significant,” says lead author John Forman, M.D.
Should you take a supplement? More study is needed. For now, experts advise a heart-healthy diet and exercise.