Calcidiol Status and Metabolic Syndrome in 40-60-Year-Old Women: Association with Metabolic Components

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a public health problem with high prevalence in adult Mexican women. Evidence suggest that vitamin D deficiency is prevalent among individuals' metabolic disorders, obesity, and insulin resistance.

To assess the association between calcidiol status (25D₃) and metabolic syndrome in 40-to-60-year-old Mexican women.

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in 202 women from the northeast of Mexico. The diagnosis of MetS was established using the definition of the International Diabetes Federation. Calcidiol was quantified using a validated method of liquid chromatography (HPLC-UV).

The prevalence of MetS was 59.9% and calcidiol deficiency (<20 ng/dL) 67.8%. Women with MetS had lower calcidiol levels than those in the NoMetS group (9.0 ng/mL vs. 17.2 ng/mL; p = 0.003). Presence of MetS was associated with deficient calcidiol levels (p = 0.023). Most MetS components showed an increased likelihood, 1.7 to 9.1%, of the presence of MetS at deficient (<20 ng/dL) and low (<30 ng/mL) calcidiol levels.

Maintaining calcidiol levels at or above 30 ng/mL has been stated as protective for 40-60-year-old women; however, vitamin D supplementation as a protective strategy against MetS cannot be recommended. Longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to clarify causality and evaluate the benefits of vitamin D in women with metabolic syndrome.