Obesity and Vitamin D Deficiency: Trends to Promote a More Proatherogenic Cardiometabolic Risk Profile

Abstract

© The Author(s) 2014. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors (eg, hypertension, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and dyslipidemia). We studied 50 obese patients (body mass index [BMI]: 43.5 ± 9.2 kg/m2) and 36 normal weight participants (BMI: 22.6 ± 1.9 kg/m2). The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L) was 88% among obese patients and 31% among nonobese individuals; 25(OH)D levels were lower in the obese group (27.3±13.7 vs 64.6 ± 21.3 nmol/L; P <.001). There was a negative correlation between vitamin D level and anthropometric indicators of obesity: BMI (r =-0.64; P <.001), waist circumference (r =-0.59; P <.001), and body fat percentage (r =-0.64; P <.001) as well as with fasting plasma insulin (r =-0.35; P <.001) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (r =-0.35; P <.001). In conclusion, we observed a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among obese participants and this was associated with a proatherogenic cardiometabolic risk profile.