Abstract-Vitamin D regulates the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in experimental animals, but corresponding human data are limited. We examined the relation between plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D and elements of the RAS in 184 normotensive individuals in high sodium balance; these included circulating levels of plasma renin activity and angiotensin II (Ang II) and the renal plasma flow response to infused Ang II, which is an indirect measure of the intrinsic RAS activity in the kidney. Compared with individuals with sufficient 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels (Ն30.0 ng/mL), those with insufficiency (15.0 to 29.9 ng/mL) and deficiency (Ͻ15.0 ng/mL) had higher circulating Ang II levels (P for trendϭ0.03). Moreover, those with vitamin D deficiency had significantly blunted renal plasma flow responses to infused Ang II (mean decrease of 115 mL/min per 1.73 m 2 in renal plasma flow versus 145 mL/min per 1.73 m 2 among those with sufficient vitamin D levels; P for trendϭ0.009). Although plasma renin activity was higher among individuals with insufficient levels of vitamin D, the result was not statistically significant. These data suggest that low plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels may result in upregulation of the RAS in otherwise healthy humans. A major proposed mechanism linking vitamin D with hypertension involves vitamin D-mediated suppression of the renin-angiotensin (Ang) system (RAS), yet data derive mostly from in vitro and animal studies. [15][16][17][18][19] Human investigation of the association between vitamin D and the RAS has been scant. Resnick et al 20 originally reported that plasma renin activity (PRA) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25[OH] 2 D) were inversely correlated (rϭϪ0.65) among 61 individuals on an ambient diet. Several years later, Burgess et al 21 reported a similar association in 10 hypertensives (rϭϪ0.76). Interestingly, in a randomized trial that documented a 14-mm Hg decrease in SBP with vitamin D supplementation compared with placebo, the authors also noted a trend toward a decrease in circulating angiotensin II (Ang II) levels (Ϫ13.1 pg/mL; Pϭ0.14) relative to placebo. 22 To test the hypothesis that there is a mechanistic role for vitamin D in the regulation of the RAS in humans, we examined the relation between plasma 25(OH)D concentration with both circulating renin and Ang II levels, as well as the renal plasma flow (RPF) response to infused Ang II, which correlates inversely with endogenous intrarenal RAS activity, 23-27 among 184 normotensive individuals.
Methods
Study PopulationParticipants in this study included 184 normotensive white and black men and women, recruited as healthy volunteers from the general population, who completed RPF studies in high sodium balance at 1 of 4 General Clinical Research Centers, including Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston; the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah; Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee; and the Hô pital Européen Georges Pompidou in Paris, France. We examined normotensive participants because of our...