Relationship of vitamin D status and obesity index in Korean women / 한국영양학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Vitamin D status is associated with several chronic diseases related to obesity. In this study, we evaluate the nutritional status of vitamin D and its relation to obesity indices in Korean women. METHODS: A total of 156 healthy women participated. Vitamin D status (serum 25-OH-vitamin D3 level) and obesity indices (body mass index, body fat mass, waist-hip ratio, and body fat percentage etc.) and serum lipid profiles and serum adipokine (leptin and adiponectin) levels were analyzed. RESULTS: The 25(OH)D3 level showed an extremely skewed distribution from 4.1 ng/ml to 24.4 ng/ml and mean 25(OH)D3 level was 9.0 +/- 4.0 ng/ml. With cut-off level for vitamin D deficiency ( or = 20 ng/ml), 77.6%, 19.2%, and 3.2% of subjects showed vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency status, respectively. The 25(OH)D3 level showed positive correlation with weight (r = 0.2461, p < 0.01), body mass index (r = 0.2913, p < 0.001), body fat contents (r = 0.1691, p < 0.05), fat free mass (r = 0.2330, p < 0.01), and waist hip ratio (r = 0.1749, p < 0.05) after adjusted by age. The 25(OH)D3 level showed no significant correlation with serum lipid profiles and adipokine levels. CONCLUSION: Most subjects (76.6%) in this study, who had a vitamin D deficient status and serum 25(OH)D3 level, showed positive correlation with several obesity indices, however further research based on a large Korean population is needed to confirm the relationship.