Effect of Vitamin D₃ on the Postprandial Lipid Profile in Obese Patients: A Non-Targeted Lipidomics Study

Abstract: Postprandial lipemia can lead to an accumulation of atherogenic lipoproteins in the circulation associated with systemic low-grade inflammation and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle and pharmacological treatments are usually prescribed for prevention. Vitamin D₃ (cholecalciferol), as an anti-atherogenic agent, is being taken into consideration due to its potential beneficial effects in lipid metabolism and its anti-inflammatory potency. To assess the effects of vitamin D₃ in the postprandial lipid profile in obese, vitamin D-deficient women, a non-targeted lipidomics approach using liquid chromatography coupled to a quadrupole time-of flight mass spectrometer was used to identify and quantitate a wide-range of circulating lipid species, including diglycerides, lysophosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, sphingomyelins and triglycerides. The most important changes were found in plasmatic sphingomyelin levels, which experience a decrease after vitamin D₃ intake. Our results suggest a turnover of sphingomyelins, probably due to an increased activity of neutral sphingomyelinases, and, therefore, with implications in the clearance of chylomicrons, LDL and VLDL, decreasing postprandial inflammation and macrophage adherence to endothelia, potentially improving cardiovascular disease risk.