Objective To observe the effects of resveratrol on blood pressure and cardiac function in the rats with vascular calcification induced by vitamin D₃ plus nicotine. Methods 32 male SD rats were randomly divided into the following groups for treatment: Control (Con), calcified (Cal), Cal+Res low dose [L] and Cal+Res high dose [H] groups. Blood pressure, cardiac function, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in serum or aorta were detected and HE staining was used for pathological examination at 6 weeks after treatment. Results Compared with the Con group, LVW/BW, heart rate, systolic aortic pressure, pulse pressure, mean blood pressure, left ventricular systolic pressure and ALP activity in serum or aorta of rats in the Cal group were increased by 27.3%, 8.8%, 22.8%, 47.5%, 13.6%, 19.0%, 280% and 265% (P<0.05 or P<0.01), respectively. Compared with the Cal group, pulse pressure and ALP activity in serum or aorta of rats in the Cal+Res [L] group were decreased by 8.5%, 34.5% and 29.5% (P<0.05 or P<0.01), respectively, and LVW/BW, systolic aortic pressure, pulse pressure, mean blood pressure, left ventricular systolic pressure and ALP activity in serum or aorta of rats in the Cal+Res [H] group were decreased by 14.2%, 13.6%, 23.7%,10.0%, 9.0%, 53.1% and 45.9% (P<0.05 or P<0.01), respectively. Compared with the Cal+Res [L] group, systolic aortic pressure, pulse pressure, left ventricular systolic pressure and ALP activity in serum or aorta of rats in the Cal+Res [H] group were decreased by 8.3%, 16.7%, 5.8%, 28.4% and 23.2% (P<0.05 or P<0.01), respectively. Compared with the aorta in the Con group, pathological examination revealed thickened vessel walls and disordered elastic fibers in the calcified aortas. However, the thickness of aortic wall in the Cal+Res [L] and Cal+Res [H] groups was reduced and elastic fibers were regularly arranged. Conclusion Resveratrol can effectively reduce the blood pressure and improve the cardiac function in rats with vascular calcification.