Turkish journal of nephrology (Online), cilt.33, sa.4, ss.349-357, 2024 (ESCI, Scopus, TRDizin)
Background: Primary hypertension (HT) has a high mortality rate due to its atherosclerotic complications. Vitamin D (VD) deficiency has been reported to increase the development of non-dipper HT (ND-HT) and atherosclerosis, but there are also conflicting results. To our knowledge, there is no study investigating the relationship between VD and carotid artery intima–media thickness (C-IMT) in patients with HT. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between VD levels, ND-HT development, and C-IMT in patients with HT with no known cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods: This study was conducted in 60 (63% female) patients with HT. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was per- formed using a portable digital recording device. C-IMT was measured using B-mode ultrasonography. Vitamin D levels were measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Those with C-IMT ≥0.750 mm were assumed to have sub- clinical atherosclerosis, and serum 25-(OH) D3 (VD) levels <20 ng/mL were VD deficient. Results: There was a significant negative linear relationship between VD levels and triglycerides (TG) and smoking, and a significant positive linear relationship between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Triglyceride levels were signifi- cantly (P = .015) higher in patients who were VD deficient compared to those who were VD sufficient. Patients with subclini- cal atherosclerosis were older (P = .002) than those without. Only patient age was positively associated with C-IMT (P < .001). There was no relationship between VD levels/VD deficiency and the presence of ND-HT and subclinical atherosclerosis. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that VD deficiency does not facilitate the development of ND-HT and subclinical atherosclerosis.