Serum vitamin D and cardiometabolic risk factors in the UK population

Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations have been associated with greater adiposity and an adverse cardiometabolic risk profile, yet findings are inconsistent and the role of vitamin D status in cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains uncertain. We aimed to examine the associations between serum 25(OH)D and CVD risk factors in the British population. We analysed data on 2842 subjects aged ≥40 years enrolled in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS 2008-2018). Based on serum 25(OH)D concentrations, study subjects were grouped in three categories: vitamin D deficiency (<25 nmol/L), vitamin D insufficiency (25-49 nmol/L) and vitamin D sufficiency status (≥50 nmol/mL). Differences in CVD risk factors between vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency and vitamin D sufficiency status were expressed in standard deviation scores (SDSs) and estimated through weighted multiple linear regression models. We found that vitamin D deficiency was directly associated with BMI, waist circumference, triglycerides and inversely associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) values. The strongest associations were found between vitamin D deficiency and triglycerides (0.50 SDS, 95% CI: 0.24, 0.77) among men, and vitamin D deficiency and waist circumference (0.70 SDS, 95% CI: 0.56, 0.94), BMI (0.63 SDS, 95% CI: 0.39, 0.88) and triglycerides (0.54 SDS, 95% CI: 0.30, 0.77) among women. When adjusting for BMI the association with triglyceride attenuated (from 0.50 SDS to 0.39 SDS among men and from 0.54 SDS to 0.30 SDS among women). Our data indicates a relationship between inadequate vitamin D status and an adverse CVD risk profile. However, interventional studies are needed to establish possible benefits of vitamin D supplementation on cardiovascular risk. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.