“We found that people with vitamin D deficiency had vascular dysfunction comparable to those with diabetes or hypertension,” says Ibhar Al Mheid, an Emory cardiovascular researcher.
A lack of vitamin D, even in healthy people, can impair vascular health by stiffening arteries and preventing blood vessels from relaxing to restore blood flow, Emory and Georgia Tech researchers have found.
Study participants who increased their vitamin D levels were able to improve vascular health and lower their blood pressure.
The average level of vitamin D among the participants was 31.8 nanograms per milliliter. Within the group, 14% had levels considered deficient (less than 20 nanograms), and 33% had levels considered insufficient (less than 30 nanograms).