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Health News Archive 379 - Blood Pressure
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Calcium Supplementation Reduces Blood Pressure

While inflammation is a significant contributor to high blood pressure, another significant contributor is calcium levels in the body, because of calcium’s role in muscle function. Low calcium levels can disrupt muscle function such as that in your arteries, impairing their ability to relax. Now a new study has found that calcium can play a significant role in helping you maintain normal blood pressure levels.

In the study, the researchers reviewed 42 studies examining calcium’s role in high blood pressure. The studies ranged from 3 to 208 weeks and used an average of 1200 mg of calcium per day. They found that calcium supplementation had a greater effect in populations with low dietary calcium (less than 800 mg per day) versus those with higher dietary intakes (more than 800 mg per day). Overall, the 42 studies showed that an average of 1,000 mg of calcium supplementation per day "may significantly reduce systolic pressure by 1.9 mm Hg and diastolic pressure by 1.0 mm Hg."

Although they concluded that "an adequate intake of calcium should be recommended for the prevention of hypertension", the researchers admit that the past inconsistent findings regarding calcium and high blood pressure are due to the tremendously important role lifestyle and diet play in high blood pressure.

Source: Arends LR. Blood pressure response to calcium supplementation: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Hum Hypertens 20: 571-580

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