Our results suggest that circulating 25[OH]D concentrations are
inversely associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure
in Hispanic and African Americans, but the effect is weakened
after adjusting for BMI. This finding supports those from a
nationally representative study including Hispanic and African
Americans.4 If the inverse association between 25[OH]D and blood
pressure could be replicated using an observational longitudinal
study design or a randomized clinical trial, it could have
public health significance, as the potential influence of
raising 25[OH]D levels to sufficiency could substantially lower
blood pressure. For example, raising 25[OH]D levels of
individuals in the lowest quintile of 25[OH]D in this study (~8
ng/mL) to levels of the highest quintile (~32 ng/mL, a
sufficient level of vitamin D) could potentially lower systolic
blood pressure by 2.3 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 1.5
mmHg (estimates based on models including BMI). As noted by
Scragg et al.,4 a decrease in systolic