Lab Med Online.  2023 Jul;13(3):223-229. 10.47429/lmo.2023.13.3.223.

Associations between Vitamin D and Indicators of Common Chronic Diseases in Korean Adults

• Yoon HR
• Kwak H
• Nah EH
• Cho CH

• KMID: 2552747
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.47429/lmo.2023.13.3.223

Abstract

Background
Vitamin D receptors exist in all cells throughout the human body regulating transcription and expression of various target genes. Recent studies have focused on the potential novel functions of vitamin D other than bone metabolism. We attempted to identify the status of vitamin D deficiency in Korean adults and elucidate associations between vitamin D and indicators of common chronic diseases, such as obesity, dyslipidemia, fatty liver, hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, and depression.
Methods
From August to December 2021, 4,545 individuals (1,653 men and 2,892 women) over the age of 20 were studied. Serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D was measured using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay with a 25-hydroxyvitamin D kit (Roche Diagnostics, Germany). The corresponding results of a mental health questionnaire, waist circumference, body mass index, and blood pressure were collected, alongside blood levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, AST, ALT, γ-GT, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, and creatinine.
Results
Vitamin D levels increased with age. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (< 10 ng/mL) was the highest among people in their 20s. Overall, vitamin D levels were under 30 ng/mL in 83.7% of men and 73.4% of women. Vitamin D was inversely associated with waist circumference, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, γ-GT, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-cholesterol (each, P < 0.001). Meanwhile, vitamin D was positively associated with HDL-cholesterol (P = 0.002).
Conclusions
Lower serum vitamin D levels led to stronger associations with indicators of obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and fatty liver. Ultimately, this suggests that vitamin D deficiency is associated with metabolic syndrome.

Keyword

25-hydroxyvitamin D; Vitamin D deficiency; Prevalence; Obesity; Dyslipidemia; Hypertension; Fatty liver

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