Serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D and their relationship to metabolic syndrome in a population of young nondiabetic men

Abstract

Introduction: insufficient levels of vitamin D (VD) have been associated with several nonmusculoskeletal diseases. However, whether they are associated with a greater prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) is a matter of controversy.

Objective: to determine and compare the frequency of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) insufficiency and deficiency in young, obese nondiabetic men and normal weight controls, and its correlation with metabolic syndrome.

Material and methods: a cross-sectional study which included 62 normal weight and 47 obese individuals. Serum levels of 25(OH)D were ascertained and anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured to establish MS criteria.

Results: of the 47 obese subjects, 25 had MS, while none of the normal weight subjects met the criteria. There were no statistically significant differences in the presence of the syndrome related to the vitamin D levels (p=0.94). The mean serum 25(OH)D level for the total population was 30.6±8.3 ng/mL; in normal weight subjects it was 30.8±8.5 ng/mL, in obese subjects with MS it was 30.1±9.2 ng/mL, and in obese subjects without MS it was 30.6±7.5 ng/mL. Furthermore, there was no significant correlation between the individual MS parameters and serum VD, either globally or on subgroup analysis.

Conclusion: there was no significant correlation between serum 25(OH)D levels and MS, nor was any significant correlation found between these and the anthropometric and biochemical parameters studied