Low 25(OH)D3 levels are associated with total adiposity, metabolic syndrome, and hypertension in Caucasian children and adolescents.

Eur J Endocrinol. 2011 Jul 13.
Pacifico L, Anania C, Osborn JF, Ferraro F, Bonci E, Olivero E, Chiesa C.
L Pacifico, PEDIATRICS, SAPIENZA UNIVERSITY OF ROME, ROME, 00161, Italy.

Objectives: Evidence of the association between vitamin D and cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in the young is limited. We therefore assessed the relationships between circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 25(OH)D3 and metabolic syndrome (MetS), its components, and early atherosclerotic changes in 452 (304 overweight/obese, 148 healthy, normal weight) Caucasian children.

Methods: We determined serum 25(OH)D3 concentrations in relation to MetS, its components (central obesity, hypertension, low HDL cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia, glucose impairment and/or insulin resistance), as well as to impairment of flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) and increased carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) - two markers of subclinical atherosclerosis.

Results: Higher 25(OH)D3 was significantly associated with a reduced presence of MetS. Obesity, central obesity, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL cholesterol, IR, and MetS were all associated with an increased odds of having low 25(OH)D3 levels, after adjustment for age, sex, and Tanner stage. After additional adjustment for SD score (SDS)-BMI, elevated blood pressure and MetS remained significantly associated with low vitamin D status.

The adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for those in the lowest (< 17 ng/mL) compared with the highest tertile (> 27 ng/mL) of 25(OH)D3 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 among 25(OH)D3, high blood pressure and MetS was observed when models were adjusted for waist circumference. No correlation was found between 25(OH)D3 concentrations and either FMD or cIMT.

Conclusions: Low 25(OH)D3 levels in Caucasian children are inversely related to total adiposity, MetS and hypertension.

PMID: 21753070

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Summary (would have been much more if had say 40 ng/ml)

Comparing < 17 to >27 ng/ml of vitamin D

• 72% more likely to have hypertension
• 130% more likely to have Metabolic Syndrome
  • central obesity
  • hypertension
  • low HDL cholesterol
  • hypertriglyceridemia
  • glucose impairment and/or insulin resistance

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See also Vitamin D Life

• Hypertension and vitamin D
• Does vitamin D deficiency cause hypertension? 2010 with PDF
• Systolic hypertension 4X more likely if low on vitamin D 14 years before – Nov 2010
• 11 ng less vitamin D increases hypertension probability by 14 percent – Nov 2010
• Hypertension more likely with less vitamin D - Dec 2010 all work at Kaiser Permanete
• Review of heart failure and vitamin D mechanisms – Jan 2011
• Vitamin D reduced blood pressure in random controlled trials – Nov 2010
• Systolic hypertension 4X more likely if low on vitamin D 14 years before – Nov 2010
• Hypothesis that lack of vitamin D increases blood pressure in blacks – July 2010
• Metabolic syndrome 50 percent more likely if under 20 ng of vitamin D – May 2011
• All items in category Hypertension and vitamin D
• Metabolic Syndrome and vitamin D - view of many papers Aug 2010
• Is Osteoarthritis a metabolic syndrome – June 2010
• Overview Diabetes and vitamin D
• 70 percent increased chance of metabolic syndrome if low on vitamin D – May 2011