Associations of vitamin D status with markers of metabolic health: A community-based study in Shanghai, China

Abstract

Aims This study investigated the associations of vitamin D status (i.e., serum 25(OH)D concentration) with markers of metabolic health and metabolic syndrome (MS), as well as possible gender differences in these associations, with metabolic syndrome (MS) for a sample from Shanghai, China. Methods Demographic and anthropometric data, as well as 25-hydroxyvitamin D (serum 25(OH)D), blood glucose, and lipid concentrations were obtained for 508 urban residents aged 19–70 years. After grouping into tertiles according to their serum 25(OH)D concentrations, linear and logistic regressions were used to evaluate associations between serum 25(OH)D concentration and risk factors for MS across tertiles. Results A 1 ng/mL increase in 25(OH)D was associated with a significant decrease in total cholesterol by 0.25 mmol/L [95% CI: (−0.44, −0.05); P = 0.014] for the third tertile, with reference to the first tertile. Also, 1 ng/mL increase in 25(OH)D was associated with a significant decrease in LDL by 0.18 mmol/L [95% CI: (−0.35, −0.02); P = 0.026] for the third tertile. In addition, participants in the third tertile had a 54% reduction in the OR for MS [95% CI: (−1.10,− 0.02), P = 0.041]. Lastly, while there was no gender difference in vitamin D deficiency status, the non-MS women had significantly higher 25(OH)D level than those with MS (30.1 ± 5.8 vs. 28.5 ± 5.9 ng/mL, P = 0.035), while no such difference was observed for men. Conclusions Higher serum 25(OH)D concentration was associated with a better metabolic profile and thus a lower risk for developing MS in urban Shanghai residents of China.