Vitamin D levels in a population from Argentina with metabolic disorders

Metabolic disorders are a public health problem worldwide. The vitamin D status in patients with metabolic diseases is not a routine procedure. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and examine the correlation between vitamin D status and cardiometabolic parameters in Latin American population with metabolic disorders.

This observational study with a cross-sectional design included 151 patients with metabolic disorders (type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism, type 2 diabetes with hypothyroidism, and excess weight). A fasting blood sample was collected and analyzed to determine the levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, calcium, glucose, hemoglobin A1c, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and free thyroxine. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were also performed.

According to vitamin D values established by the Institute of Medicine, subjects with metabolic disorders group showed: 23% risk to bone health (9.42 ±3.O4ng/mL), 45% risk of insufficiency/deficiency (17.05 ±2.12ng/mL), and 32% had sufficient levels (26.34±6.74ng/mL), whereas healthy subjects group showed significantly higher values than metabolic diseases group (37.25± 7.72). In addition, vitamin D levels were inversely correlated with elevated body mass index (29.13±5.15kg/m²), systolic blood pressure (126.50± 15.60 mm Hg), fast blood glucose (106.29±33.80 mg/dL), and hemoglobin A1c (6.40% ± 1.38%) values.

Subjects with metabolic disorders and with adequate nutritional intake of vitamin D-rich foods and frequent exposure to sunlight have low serum vitamin D concentrations compared to the general population and vitamin D status should be assessed in these patients.