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Vitamin D status, hypertension and ischemic stroke: a clinical perspective

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 29, pages 669–674 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

The relationship between vitamin D deficiency and stroke was cross-sectionally evaluated in the high-risk Asian Indian population. Age- and gender-matched, 239 ischemic stroke patients and 241 control subjects were recruited. Vitamin D status was estimated by measuring serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels. After multivariate adjustment for a range of potential covariates in a logistic regression model, an inverse association was found between serum 25(OH)D concentration and risk of ischemic stroke: subjects with severely low 25(OH)D levels (⩽9.33 ng ml−1) were found to be at 3.13-fold (95% confidence interval (CI), (1.22–8.07)) increased risk of ischemic stroke as compared with those with high levels. Adjustment for systolic blood pressure levels was found to abrogate this association (odds ratio (OR)=2.00, 95% CI=0.61–6.50). On stratification, a pronounced association was found between low 25(OH)D and risk of ischemic stroke in hypertensives, OR=13.54, 95% CI=1.94–94.43 as compared with no association in non-hypertensives, (Pinteraction=0.04). We conclude that high blood pressure partly explains the association between 25(OH)D levels and ischemic stroke. Presence of hypertension amply aggravates the risk of ischemic stroke associated with low vitamin D levels. Meticulous management of hypertension, regular monitoring of serum 25(OH)D levels and treatment of severe vitamin D deficiency, particularly in hypertensive subjects, could help in effective prevention of stroke.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India.

Author Contributions

VM contributed to the design of the study, biochemical analysis, acquisition and analysis of data and manuscript writing. PP assisted VM in biochemical analysis and data acquisition. GBK provided the study materials and contributed to the interpretation of the data. RC contributed to the conception and design of the study and interpretation of data and carried out the overall supervision of the work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurochemistry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, India

    V Majumdar, P Prabhakar & R Christopher

  2. Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, India

    G B Kulkarni

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  1. V Majumdar
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Correspondence to R Christopher.

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Majumdar, V., Prabhakar, P., Kulkarni, G. et al. Vitamin D status, hypertension and ischemic stroke: a clinical perspective. J Hum Hypertens 29, 669–674 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2015.10

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