Metabolic differences between subjects whose blood pressure did or did not respond to oral calcium supplementation

Abstract

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a 1500 mg/d calcium supplement taken over a 12-wk period, the mean arterial pressure of normotensive adult males (n = 37) was modestly but significantly lowered as compared with a placebo group (n = 38). Within the Ca group only, responders (greater than or equal to 5 mm Hg decrease in mean arterial pressure, n = 14) were compared with nonresponders (less than 5 mm Hg decrease in mean arterial pressure, n = 23). The responders were older (p = 0.002) and exhibited higher mean arterial pressure (p = 0.00001), higher serum parathyroid hormone (p = 0.01), and lower serum total Ca (p = 0.001) at baseline. A stepwise discriminant function analysis revealed that mean arterial pressure and serum total Ca correctly classified 78.38% of the responders and nonresponders and, thus, were the most important determinants of blood pressure response to supplemental Ca.