The Effect of Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) on Vascular Function and Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Detailed Summary

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.

Study Details

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