A new study out of England confirms a causal relationship between low vitamin D levels and high blood pressure and hypertension.

The research, funded by the British Heart Foundation and performed at the University College London, examined 35 previous studies and 158,846 individuals. It found that for every 10 percent increase in vitamin D serum level, there was a .24 mmHg decrease in diastolic blood pressure and an 8.1% decrease in the risk of developing hypertension.

Previous research had shown observational links between low vitamin D levels and increased blood pressure, but had not established a causal relationship. However, this type of study uses a genetic analysis model to eliminate many of the confounding variables and the possibility of reverse causality.

“The whole picture was somewhat confused, and we decided to try to figure it out once and for all,” lead researcher Dr. Vimal Karani said, according to The Daily Express. “To put it in simple terms, by using this approach we can determine the cause and effect and be pretty sure that we’ve come to the right conclusion.”

Read more coverage from MedPage Today and The Daily Express.

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