Compared with the highest tertile, Caucasian children in the lowest tertile of 25(OH)D3 had increased odds of metabolic syndrome (OR 2.30; 95% CI 1.20-4.40) and hypertension (OR 1.72; 95% CI 1.02-2.92).
Observational (n=452)
Are low 25(OH)D3 levels associated with metabolic syndrome and early atherosclerotic changes in Caucasian children and adolescents?
Low vitamin D levels in Caucasian children are independently associated with increased odds of metabolic syndrome and hypertension, but not with subclinical atherosclerosis markers like FMD or cIMT.
Odds Ratio: 2.3 (95% CI 1.2–4.4)
OBJECTIVES: Evidence of the association between vitamin D and cardiovascular risk factors in the young is limited. We therefore assessed the relationships between circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) (25(OH)D(3)) and metabolic syndrome (MetS), its components, and early atherosclerotic changes in 452 (304 overweight/obese and 148 healthy, normal weight) Caucasian children. METHODS: We determined serum 25(OH)D(3) concentrations in relation to MetS, its components (central obesity, hypertension, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia, glucose impairment, and/or insulin resistance (IR)), and impairment of flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) and increased carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) - two markers of subclinical atherosclerosis. RESULTS: Higher 25(OH)D(3) was significantly associated with a reduced presence of MetS. Obesity, central obesity, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL-cholesterol, IR, and MetS were all associated with increased odds of having low 25(OH)D(3) levels, after adjustment for age, sex, and Tanner stage. After additional adjustment for SDS-body mass index, elevated blood pressure (BP) and MetS remained significantly associated with low vitamin D status. The adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for those in the lowest (27 ng/ml) of 25(OH)D(3) for hypertension was 1.72 (1.02-2.92), and for MetS, it was 2.30 (1.20-4.40). A similar pattern of association between 25(OH)D(3), high BP, and MetS was observed when models were adjusted for waist circumference. No correlation was found between 25(OH)D(3) concentrations and either FMD or cIMT. CONCLUSIONS: Low 25(OH)D(3) levels in Caucasian children are inversely related to total adiposity, MetS, and hypertension.
Pacifico et al. (2011) conducted an observational in Cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome (n=452). Lowest tertile of 25(OH)D3 (<17 ng/ml) vs. Highest tertile of 25(OH)D3 (>27 ng/ml) was evaluated on Metabolic syndrome (MetS) (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.20-4.40). Compared with the highest tertile, Caucasian children in the lowest tertile of 25(OH)D3 had increased odds of metabolic syndrome (OR 2.30; 95% CI 1.20-4.40) and hypertension (OR 1.72; 95% CI 1.02-2.92).