Vitamin D status and prevalence of metabolic syndrome by race and Hispanic origin in US adults: findings from the 2007-2014 NHANES

Authors: AHLUWALIA, NAMANJEET - Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) - United States; RAMKRIPA, RAGHAVAN - Johns Hopkins University; GUANGYA, ZHANG - Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) - United States; TALEGAWKAR, SAMEERA - George Washington University; JACQUES, PAUL - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University

Submitted to: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/24/2022
Publication Date: 8/29/2022
Citation: Ahluwalia, N., Ramkripa, R., Guangya, Z., Talegawkar, S., Jacques, P.F. 2022. Vitamin D status and prevalence of metabolic syndrome by race and Hispanic origin in US adults: findings from the 2007-2014 NHANES. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqac234.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqac234

Interpretive Summary: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of risk factors, including obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar, that are known to increase risk of chronic disease and death. MetS is a significant problem, affecting over 36% of adults in the United States. Previous research has indicated that low levels of vitamin D may be linked to greater risk for MetS. In addition, research has shown that the relationship between vitamin D and MetS may be different across different racial and ethnic groups. The objective of this study was to look at the associations between vitamin D status and MetS overall and also across race and ethnicity. We looked at data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which is a large study looking at the health of individuals representing different races and ethnicities in the United States. In our study, lower vitamin D status was significantly associated with MetS, even when other important factors (such as socioeconomic and lifestyle factors) were accounted for. This association was seen in all race/ethnic groups, but it was the strongest among non-Hispanic whites. Since few foods contain Vitamin D, this study highlights the importance of encouraging vitamin D supplementation in patients, particularly in primary care settings. Furthermore, it will be important to continue conducting research on the topic of Vitamin D and MetS to better understand the relationship.

Technical Abstract: Background: Vitamin D status has been found to be inversely associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in some studies. Vitamin D status varies by race and ethnicity, and the association of MetS with vitamin D status in US adults and by race and Hispanic origin has not been evaluated extensively. Objectives: We aimed to examine the associations between vitamin D status and MetS overall, and across race and Hispanic origin groups, in a nationally representative sample of US adults who participated in the NHANES from 2007 to 2014. Methods: The total sample included 8639 adults, > or =20 y of age. Serum vitamin D was measured using a standardized LC-tandem MS method and was categorized using data-driven tertiles. MetS was defined using measured waist circumference, triglycerides,HDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and fasting glucose. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted [accounting for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, dietary supplement use, and BMI (in kg/m2)] to examine the associations of serum vitamin D with MetS among adults overall, and by race and Hispanic origin. Results: Serum vitamin D in the lowest tertile (> or =56 nmol/L) was significantly associated with increased odds of MetS compared with the highest tertile (>77.9 nmol/L) (fully adjusted model OR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.51, 2.27). Inverse associations were noted for all race Hispanic origin groups: non-Hispanic white (NHW) (OR: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.67, 3.01), non-Hispanic black (OR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.06, 2.29), and Hispanic (OR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.03, 2.14) adults. Conclusions: Lower vitamin D status was significantly associated with MetS among US adults after adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, dietary supplement use, and BMI. This finding was noted across all race and Hispanic origin groups, although the strength of the association varied, being strongest for NHW adults.