Vitamin D Concentrations in Relation to Waist-To-Hip Ratio, Fat Mass, and Blood Pressure in Obese Women: A Preliminary Study

Vitamin D deficiency is often linked to obesity, which features an increased waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and higher body fat mass. Obesity is also strongly connected to an elevated risk of hypertension. Vitamin D plays a key role in regulating the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS), which controls blood pressure. This study aimed to examine the relationship between serum vitamin D levels, WHR, body fat mass, and blood pressure in obese women to better understand the potential role of vitamin D in blood pressure regulation within this group. A cross-sectional analytic study was conducted among 37 obese women between 20–30 years old. Serum vitamin D levels, WHR, body fat mass, and blood pressure were measured, and the correlations were analyzed using Pearson's correlation test. The mean serum vitamin D level was 21.2 ± 12.2 ng/mL, the mean body fat mass was 41.73 ± 4.46%, and the mean WHR was 0.82 ± 0.05. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 128.3 ± 13.8 mmHg and 82.9 ± 9.7 mmHg, respectively. Significant negative correlations were observed between vitamin D levels and WHR (r = –0.355, p = 0.031), body fat mass (r = –0.338, p = 0.041), systolic blood pressure (r = –0.387, p = 0.018), and diastolic blood pressure (r = –0.556, p < 0.001). In conclusion, lower serum vitamin D levels were significantly associated with higher WHR, body fat mass, and both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. These findings highlight the role of vitamin D in the regulation of fat metabolism and blood pressure.