Association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D with body fat and cardiovascular risk factors in a Uruguayan population cohort: a cross-sectional analysis

Authors

Paula Moliterno, Austrian Academic Institute for Clinical Nutrition, Vienna, AustriaFollow
Carmen Marino Donangelo, Escuela de Nutrición, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, CP 11600, UruguayFollow
Luciana Borgarello, Laboratorio de Patología Clínica. Universidad de la República. Montevideo CP 11600, UruguayFollow
Alicia Olascoaga, Laboratorio de Patología Clínica. Universidad de la República. Montevideo CP 11600, UruguayFollow
Matias Pécora, Departamento de Fisiopatología, Universidad de la República, Montevideo CP 11600, UruguayFollow
José Boggia, Centro de Nefrología, Universidad de la República, Montevideo CP 11600, UruguayFollow

Document Type

Original Research Article

Abstract

Objective: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels reflect the body's vitamin D nutritional status and have been related to cardiovascular risk factors. We investigated the association between 25(OH)D concentration and metabolic and functional cardiovascular risk factors in a cross-sectional analysis of data obtained from an adult population cohort in Uruguay (Genotype-Phenotype and Environment of Hypertension Study—GEFA-HT-UY). Methods: Study in 220 participants (60.9% women; 47.8±17.1years). Serum 25(OH)D was determined by chemiluminescence. Body fat was assessed by electrical bioimpedance analysis. Blood samples and blood pressure were obtained by standardized procedures. Multivariable linear regression models were used to study the association between serum 25(OH)D levels, body fat localization and cardiovascular risk, adjusted for seasonality, sex, age, smoking status and physical activity. Results and Conclusions: The mean 25(OH)D concentration was 24.4±12.1 ng/mL; 41.4% of participants had serum 25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL, of whom 30.8% showed serum 25(OH)D < 12 ng/mL. Serum 25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL was more prevalent in women than men (48.5% vs 30.2%, p=0.007). Higher body mass index, waist-to-height ratio, fat mass index, body fat percentage, and rates of obesity and hypertension were observed in those with serum 25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL. The odds of serum 25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL increased with obesity (OR=1.94, 95% CI: 1.01–3.72) and hypertension (OR=2.49, 95% CI: 1.16–5.34) (p≤0.050); among women, the odds of having 25(OH)D levels below 20 ng/mL increased almost fourfold in those with abdominal obesity compared to those with normal abdominal fat. Gynoid fat correlated with lower 25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL risk. In conclusion, 25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL was highly prevalent, especially in women. 25 (OH)D levels were inversely associated with total adiposity, abdominal fat, systolic blood pressure and TG/HDLc ratio, and positively associated with increased gynoid or femoral-gluteal fat.

Recommended Citation

Moliterno, Paula; Marino Donangelo, Carmen; Borgarello, Luciana; Olascoaga, Alicia; Pécora, Matias; and Boggia, José (2025) "Association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D with body fat and cardiovascular risk factors in a Uruguayan population cohort: a cross-sectional analysis," American Journal of Non-Communicable Diseases: Vol. 2: Iss. 1, Article 4.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/ajncd/vol2/iss1/4