Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Orthostatic Hypotension: Results From the STURDY Trial

Background: Vitamin D3 supplementation is considered a potential intervention to prevent orthostatic hypotension (OH) based on observational evidence that vitamin D levels are inversely associated with OH. With data from The Study to Understand Fall Reduction and Vitamin D in You (STURDY), a double-blind, randomized, response-adaptive trial, we determined if higher doses of vitamin D3 reduced risk of OH.

Methods: STURDY tested the effects of higher (1,000+ IU/day, i.e., 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 IU/day combined) vs. lower-dose vitamin D3 (200 IU/day, comparison) on fall risk in adults ages 70 years and older with low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D, 10-29 ng/ml). OH was determined at baseline, 3, 12, and 24 months by taking the difference between seated and standing blood pressure (BP). OH was defined as a drop in systolic or diastolic BP of at least 20 or 10 mm Hg after 1 minute of standing. Participants were also asked about OH symptoms during the assessment and the preceding month.

Results: Among 688 participants (mean age 77 [SD, 5] years; 44% women; 18% Black), the mean baseline systolic/diastolic BP was 130 (19)/67 (11) mm Hg, serum 25(OH)D was 22.1 (5.1) ng/ml, and 2.8% had OH. There were 2,136 OH assessments over the maximum 2-year follow-up period. Compared with 200 IU/day, 1,000+ IU/day was not associated with seated, standing, or orthostatic BP, and it did not lower risk of OH or orthostatic symptoms.

Conclusions: These findings do not support use of higher doses of vitamin D3 supplementation as an intervention to prevent OH.

Clinical trials registration: Trial Number NCT02166333.