Vitamin D: low levels not linked to orthostatic hypotension in elderly, finds Irish study

Researchers of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILD at Trinity College Dublin conducting the largest study of its kind to date have found that vitamin D level is not associated with low blood pressure on standing orthostatic hypotension in older adults. Their findings have been published recently in the prestigious journal Hypertension.

This is the largest ever study exploring vitamin D and orthostatic hypotension. In the older Irish population wherein the researchers see no association of low Vitamin D with orthostatic hypotension (OH).

orthostatic hypotension is a chronic condition estimated to affect 30% of older adults. It refers to a significant drop in blood pressure upon standing and it has been linked with falls, fractures, and mortality.

Recent research has suggested that vitamin D may help with the condition. This vitamin is essential for good bone health and is thought to have other beneficial health effects also.

The main source of vitamin D is ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from the sun. In addition to these foods that provide vitamin D include fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel and fortified foods, such as breakfast cereals and some dairy products.

Key findings of the study:

• Older adults with vitamin D deficiency were more likely to be smokers, take high blood pressure medication and have higher levels of cardiovascular disorders compared to those with sufficient vitamin D status.


• Those with low vitamin D status were no more likely to have OH than those with normal vitamin D levels.


• Vitamin D supplement use was not associated with OH.

Many older Irish people are deficient in vitamin D, with one in eight deficient at any given time, and one in four deficient during the winter period.

"Recently, vitamin D has been seen as the cure-all health panacea, however it makes perfect biological sense that it cannot be associated with everything," explained the study's lead author, Dr Eamon Laird.

While no link was found between vitamin D levels and OH, the researchers pointed out that the vitamin may still have a role to play in the management and possible prevention of the condition.

"For example, those with OH are more likely to fall and also sustain fractures and the strongest evidence for the health benefits for vitamin D exists for bone health and muscle function. Thus, checking vitamin D levels and optimizing vitamin D status for bone health and muscle function is important in this high-risk group," commented Principal TILDA investigator, Prof Rose-Anne Kenny.