Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: Recent studies suggest that vitamin D deficiency could be a risk factor for metabolic abnormalities.

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between 25(OH)D level and metabolic syndrome components.

Materials and methods: A total of 697 women from 30 to 55 y.o. were examined. Exclusion criteria were, clinically significant endocrine, renal, liver and GI diseases, regular insolation and intake of vitamin D and calcium supplementation. Anthropometric examination included height (m), weight (kg) and waist circumference (cm). Hemodynamic examination included systolic and diastolic blood pressure level (mmHg) measurement. Serum 25(OH)D level was performed using Abbott Architect 8000. Plasma glucose, serum lipids and insulin levels were performed using standard methods. Standard oral glucose tolerance test was performed if necessary. Insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were calculated. Metabolic syndrome diagnosed applying IDF criteria (2005).

Results: The study results showed that 90.7% of women had vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency, while 9.3% had normal vitamin D status. According to IDF criteria abdominal obesity was seen in 75.5%, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or type 2 diabetes in 33.3%, reduced HDL level in 32.2%, and hypertriglyceridemia in 23.4%. We found arterial hypertension in 26.6% of subjects. A total of 397 women were checked for metabolic syndrome, and it was diagnosed in 187 (47.1%) subjects. HOMA-IR was higher in subjects with metabolic syndrome (6.36±0.81), in compared with subjects without metabolic syndrome (2.99±0.13), (P<0.001). Serum 25(OH)D level in women with or without metabolic syndrome did not differ (48.6±1.8 & 51.1±1.5 nmol/l, P>0.05). We didn’t find association between serum 25(OH)D level and HOMA-IR. Metabolic syndrome components risk was analyzed in women with different 25(OH)D level [OR, Cl95%]. We showed that vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D<50 nmol/l) was associated with an increased risk of abdominal obesity [2.23; 1.15–4.30] and low HDL [2.60; 1.04–6.49] compared to subjects with normal 25(OH)D level. IGT and type 2 diabetes risk was not significantly increased in women with vitamin D deficiency [1.07; 0.54–2.20]. Risk of metabolic syndrome did not differ in subjects with normal vitamin D status and insufficient/deficient women (P>0.05).

Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency could be associated with abdominal obesity, reduced HDL level and possibly increased risk of IGT or type 2 diabetes.