Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and association with metabolic syndrome in a Qatari population

Abstract

Objectives:Despite long hours of sunlight in Qatar and other regions of the Middle East, vitamin D deficiency has been rising. In parallel, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome has also been increasing in Qatar. Vitamin D levels have been associated with metabolic syndrome but the data are inconsistent and no studies have addressed these inter-relationships in a Middle Eastern population where the prevalence of these conditions is high. The objective is to investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its association with metabolic syndrome and its components in the Qatar Biobank population.Methods:A cross-sectional study of 1205 participants (702 women and 503 men) from the Qatar Biobank, comprising Qataris and non-Qataris between the ages of 18 and 80 years, was used to perform multivariate linear regression analyses to examine the association between metabolic syndrome and prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (defined as <20 ng ml−1 serum vitamin D levels) adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, season of blood collection, physical activity and education. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for all analyses.Results:Approximately 64% of participants were vitamin D deficient (<20 ng ml−1) with more men being deficient (68.6%) than women (61.3%). Serum vitamin D was 8% lower in individuals with metabolic syndrome (RR: 0.92, 95%CI: 0.87–0.98, P-value: 0.01) compared to individuals without metabolic syndrome. Waist circumference and HDL as well as high triglyceride levels were also significantly positively associated with vitamin D deficiency. No association was found between the other components of metabolic syndrome or diabetes and the presence of vitamin D deficiency.Conclusions:Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in this Qatari population. Presence of metabolic syndrome was associated with presence of vitamin D deficiency. Future prospective studies need to be conducted to investigate the potential for causality.

Decreased adiponectin level in adults with central obesity and low 25-hydroxy vitamin D level

“…Both groups showed a mean vitamin D level below 20 ng/ mL which denotes vitamin D deficiency according to the criteria used by Holick. (9) The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency of 69.4 % in the present study was similar to the study results of Al-Dabhani et al (17) i.e. 64%.…”

“…The study of Al-Dabhani et al (17) also found in subjects with the metabolic syndrome lower serum vitamin D levels compared with the nonmetabolic syndrome group. (17) The same was also reported by Shafinaz et al (18) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, who found that 67.4% of adult females with mean age of 48.5 ± 5.2 years had vitamin D levels below 20 ng/mL. (18) The study by Zhen et al (19) in China on subjects aged 40-75 years showed that 75.2% subjects had vitamin D levels of <20 ng/mL.…”

“…64%. AlDabhani et al (17) conducted a study on 1205 subjects consisting of 702 females and 503 males, with mean age of 39.9 ± 10.9 years. The study of Al-Dabhani et al (17) also found in subjects with the metabolic syndrome lower serum vitamin D levels compared with the nonmetabolic syndrome group.…”

“…AlDabhani et al (17) conducted a study on 1205 subjects consisting of 702 females and 503 males, with mean age of 39.9 ± 10.9 years. The study of Al-Dabhani et al (17) also found in subjects with the metabolic syndrome lower serum vitamin D levels compared with the nonmetabolic syndrome group. (17) The same was also reported by Shafinaz et al (18) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, who found that 67.4% of adult females with mean age of 48.5 ± 5.2 years had vitamin D levels below 20 ng/mL.…”

Vitamin D status and body composition: a cross-sectional study among employees at a private university in Lebanon

“…The high prevalence of low vitamin D status paralleled the pandemic of obesity [8]. Both conditions, obesity and low vitamin D status, have been implicated in the development of many chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases [9]. Accordingly, more research is focusing on the understanding of the relationship between vitamin D status and obesity [8].…”