Studies show that, in a few cases, vitamin A is useful to lower blood pressure. Vitamin integration strengthens the walls of blood vessels, regulating blood pressure and lowering the levels of fat in the blood.
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble nutrient present in nature in two forms: preformed vitamin A, which is ready for the body to use, and provitamin A carotenoids, which the body has to convert into vitamin A. One of the richest sources of preformed vitamin A is fish oil, while carotenoids are found in high concentrations in carrots and other vegetables such as spinach, broccoli and beetroots. Thanks to its antioxidant effect, vitamin A can help prevent atherosclerotic plaques. It can even lower blood pressure levels and reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood.
Recent studies have shown that diabetic subjects are unable to convert carotenoids into the biologically active form and should therefore integrate using preformed vitamin A.
Vitamin A influences the growth and repair of organic tissue, contributing to maintaining soft, smooth and healthy skin and protecting mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, throat, lungs, digestive and genitourinary systems thus reducing the risk of infection and the damaging effects of harmful pollutants. It can even improve the ability to focus eyesight in middle-aged subjects.
Vitamin A improves the condition of subjects suffering from hypertension or cardiovascular disease by improving diuresis.
Note from our cardiologist: a supplement of vitamin A has no effect to lower blood pressure on those who already follow a well balanced diet. It is therefore important to follow your doctor’s advice if they have recommended any nutritional supplements. Our doctors always recommend you follow an adequate and healthy diet.
Scientific articles below:
- Hypertension and the Fat-Soluble Vitamins A, D and E (Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2015 Mar; 12(3): 2793–2809)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4377933/ - The association of plasma vitamin A and E levels with coronary collateral circulation (Atherosclerosis 239 (2015) 547e551)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021915015001197# - Antioxidant Vitamin Intake and Mortality. The Leisure World Cohort Study ( J. Epidemiol. (2015) 181 (2): 120-126.)
http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/181/2/120.long - Retinoid signaling in pathological remodeling related to cardiovascular disease (European JournalofPharmacology729(2014)144–147)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014299913006730