Vitamin D is a natural nutrient. A little comes from our normal daily diet. Most of it comes
from our skin after we have been in sunlight. If we have darker skin, we make less vitamin D.
Vitamin D balances the calcium in our body. If our vitamin D levels get too low, it can cause
health problems. It may increase our chance of getting high blood pressure or diabetes.
Another problem we may have if our vitamin D levels are low is that our blood vessels may not
work normally. These are important health problems for anyone. Because African Americans have
darker skin, they are more likely than most other racial/ethnic groups to have low vitamin D
levels. This study will look at treating African Americans with low vitamin D levels.
The goal of this study is to see how vitamin D helps blood vessels work. The investigators
will do this study in African Americans who are overweight, have high blood pressure and have
low vitamin D levels. The investigators will see if getting the vitamin D level to a normal
value will improve how blood vessels work. The dose of vitamin D that will be given in this
study is a high dose that is given to people with low vitamin D levels.
Phase:
N/A
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science
Collaborator:
National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
Treatments:
Cholecalciferol Ergocalciferols Vitamin D Vitamins