Sex-Specific Association Between Serum VitaminD and Health Status Among Chinese Obesity People: A Cross-Sectional...

Emerging evidence indicates associations between serum vitamin D (VD) levels and metabolic profiles in obesity. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between VD and metabolic health and body composition, with a specific focus on exploring sex-specific differences.

Data were sourced from a cohort. A linear regression model was used to explore the relationship between VD and various health indicators. Consensus clustering algorithm (CCA) identified the potential subtypes in male and female obese populations. Dose-response relationship was determined using a restricted cubic spline (RCS) model. Mediation effects of metabolic indicators between VD and obesity subtypes were explored.

A total of 1507 participants were included in this study. The linear regression model revealed an inverse relationship between VD and fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, triglycerides, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in males. VD demonstrated a positive association with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in females. CCA identified two clusters, named unhealthy and relatively healthy obesity. RCS suggested that individuals with serum VD levels exceeding 37.7 and 30.0 μmol/mL were more likely to be relatively healthy obese in the male and female populations, respectively. For mediation analysis, HOMA-IR mediated 31% of VD's effect in males (β =  - 0.049, 95% CI - 0.102, - 0.003), while HDL-C mediated 15.8% in females (β =  - 0.022, 95% CI - 0.038, - 0.009).

Obese individuals exhibiting lower serum VD levels were associated with an unhealthy status, marked by adverse metabolic indicators and body composition.