Low vitamin D levels linked to metabolic syndrome

Increasing blood levels of vitamin D are linked to a lower prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes), as well as improved �good� cholesterol levels, says a new study.

According to findings published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology, the lowest levels of the sunshine vitamin were associated with a 31 per cent prevalence of metabolic syndrome, compared to only 10 per cent for people with the highest average levels.

�Although previous surveys have also reported associations between low 25(OH)D concentration and metabolic syndrome components, to our knowledge, the present investigation is the first to report this finding in a sample with a high prevalence of vitamin D dietary supplement users in which frequencies of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency were low,� wrote the researchers, led by Kevin Maki from Illinois-based Provident Clinical Research

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Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a condition characterized by central obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol and disturbed glucose and insulin metabolism. The syndrome has been linked to increased risks of both type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Study details

The researchers analyzed vitamin D levels in the blood of 257 men and women aged over 18. Dietary and supplementary intakes were assessed using a food frequency and dietary supplement questionnaires, said the researchers.

Their results showed that vitamin D blood levels were associated with HDL cholesterol levels.

�The most notable finding from the present study was the strong relationship between serum concentrations of 25(OH)D and HDL-C concentrations,� wrote the researchers.

�Each 10 ng/mL increment in 25(OH)D was associated with an increase of 3.8 to 4.2 mg/dL in HDL-C [...] This is of considerable potential importance given that each 1 mg/dL increment in HDL-C is associated with a 4 to 6 per cent reduction in coronary heart disease (CHD) risk.�

They also observed inverse associations between vitamin D levels and triglyceride levels, body mass index, and waist circumference, meaning that higher vitamin D levels were associated with lower values for these measurable s.

Explanation

�A potential explanation for our observation of an inverse association between 25(OH)D and indicators of adiposity (waist and body mass index) may be that vitamin D is fat soluble and is therefore easily sequestered in adipose tissue,� wrote the researchers.

�Thus, there is a greater storage capacity for vitamin D in overweight and obese individuals, which may result in a reduced circulating concentration of 25(OH)D.

�As a result, in order to maintain a given circulating 25(OH)D concentration, overweight and obese individuals may have to consume higher quantities of vitamin D than would be the case for normal weight populations,� they said.

"The key to a healthy body is not just one thing such as taking Vitamin D. You must incorporate alkaline eating and drinking, daily exercise, daily sunshine and/or 50,000 IU's of Vitamin D daily," states Dr. Robert O. Young, Director of the pH Miracle Living Center.

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Source: Journal of Clinical Lipidology

Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1016/j.jacl.2009.07.003
�Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D is Independently Associated with High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and the Metabolic Syndrome in Men and Women�

Authors: K.C. Maki,