Endocrine Abstracts

Background and aims: To assess the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitaminD levels and prevalence and incidence of metabolic syndrome.

Methods: We undertook a population-based cohort study in Spain. At baseline (1996–1998), 1226 subjects were evaluated. Follow-up visits were performed in 2002–2004 and 2005–2007. At baseline and follow-up, participants underwent an interview and a standardized clinical examination with an oral glucose tolerance test in those subjects without known diabetes. At the second visit, 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and iPTH levels were measured

Results: The prevalence of metabolic sýndrome (IDF criteria) at the second and third visit was 29.4 and 42.5% respectively. Mean levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were lower in subjects with metabolic syndrome: 21.7±6.21 vs 23.35±6.29 ng/ml, P=0.001. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (25-hydroxyvitamin D ≤20 ng/ml) at the second evaluation was 34.7%, with significant differences between subjects with and without metabolic syndrome (34.6 vs 26.5%, P=0.01). Men with vitamin D deficiency more frequently had hypertension and metabolic syndrome than men with normal levels. Women with vitamin D deficiency had more frequently hyperglycemia, hypertension, increased waist circumference e hypertriglyceridemia. The number of present criteria was related to the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency so that for 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 criteria the prevalence were: 31.7, 32, 33.5, 55.4, and 100%. In prospective study, 25-hydroxyvitamin D values ≤20 ng/ml were not significantly associated with an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome in the next 4 years (OR=0.99, 95% CI 0.57–1.7, P=0.97) after adjusting by sex and age.

Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased prevalence but not with increased incidence of metabolic syndrome.