Association between Vitamin D Concentration and Visceral Fat Area in Healthy Korean Adults

Article information

Korean J Health Promot. 2017;17(3):129-136

Publication date (electronic) : 2017 January 19

doi : https://doi.org/10.15384/kjhp.2017.17.3.129

Jeong Ki Paek , Ji Hye Won , Hye Rin Shin , Dea Youn Kim , Kyunam Kim , Seon Yeong Lee

Department of Family Medicine, Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea

Corresponding author : Seon Yeong Lee, MD, PhD Department of Family Medicine, Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital, 1342 Dongil-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01757, Korea Tel: +82-2-950-1150, Fax: +82-2-952-4093 E-mail: sylee@paik.ac.kr

Received 2017 July 10; Accepted 2017 August 21.

Abstract

Background:

Studies on the relationship between vitamin D and visceral fat area (VFA; intra-abdominal fat area) have been actively conducted. But, there is a few Korean population-based studies about the association between serum vitamin D level and VFA. The aim of our study was to explore the correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels and VFA measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA; electric impedance) in healthy Korean adults.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study involved 1,945 adults aged 20-70 years who visited a health promotion center. All subjects underwent the BIA to estimate the VFA. Serum 25(OH)D level was measured using chemiluminescent immunoassay. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify independent correlation of VFA and serum 25(OH)D level.

Results:

The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (25[OH]D: 20-29 ng/mL) and insufficiency (25[OH]D <20 ng/mL) were 54.4% and 38.1%, respectively. After having adjusted age and season, VFA were negatively associated with serum 25(OH)D levels in both men (P<0.001) and women (P<0.001). The obese group with VFA ≥ 100 cm² had significant lower serum 25(OH)D level in men (P<0.001) and women (P=0.0034).

Conclusions:

VFA measured using BIA could be negatively associated with serum 25(OH)D levels in healthy Korean adult.

Keywords: Vitamin D; Intra-abdominal fat; Electric impedance; Obesity

Figure 1.

Differential serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations in subjects with or without obesity. (A, B) Comparison of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels according to body mass index (BMI) in men and women. Subjects with a BMI ≥25 kg/m² were classified as obese. (C, D) Comparison of serum 25(OH)D levels according to percentage body fat (PBF) in men and women. Men with a PBF ≥25 % and women with a PBF ≥30 % were classified as obese. (E, F) Comparison of serum 25[OH]D levels according to visceral fat area (VFA) in men and women. Subjects with a VFA ≥100 cm² were classified as obese. Data are presented as mean±standard deviation. ^∗P value from an independent-sample t-test.

Figure 2.

Correlation between 25(OH)D and fatness indices in men and women (A-C); in women aged ≥50 and <50 years (D). Smoothing curve with 95% confidence interval (shaded areas) are fitted by a Loess curve.

Table 1.

Characteristics of study subjects

Table 2.

Correlation between serum 25(OH)D and variables

Table 3.

Regression analysis of relationship between vitamin D and obesity indices

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Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Correlation between 25(OH)D and fatness indices in men and women (A-C); in women aged ≥50 and <50 years (D). Smoothing curve with 95% confidence interval (shaded areas) are fitted by a Loess curve.

Table 1.

Characteristics of study subjects

	Total (n=1,945)	Men (n=1,395)	Women (n=550)	P^a
Age (y)	46±9.5	46.3±9.1	47±10.4	0.204
BMI (kg/m²)	24.6±3.2	25±3	23.3±3.2	<0.001
Normal (18.5-22.9)	639 (32.9)	346 (24.8)	293 (53.3)	<0.001
Overweight (23-24.9) Obese (≥25)	517 (26.6) 789 (40.6)	401 (28.7) 648 (46.5)	116 (21.1) 141 (25.6)	0.001 <0.001
Percentage body fat (%)	27±8	24.4±5.4	33.1±5.8	<0.001
Non-obese (<25 in males, <30 in females)	939 (48.3)	786 (56.3)	153 (27.8)	<0.001
Obese (≥25 in males, ≥30 in females)	1,006 (51.7)	619 (43.7)	397 (72.2)	<0.001
VFA (cm²)	82.5±31.7	78±29	94.1±10.4	<0.001
Normal (<100) High-VFA (≥100)	1,501 (77.2) 444 (22.8)	1,161 (83.2) 234 (16.8)	340 (61.8) 210 (38.2)	<0.001 <0.001
Blood pressure (mmHg)
Systolic	118.5±13.9	120.4±13.2	113.4±14.4	<0.001
Diastolic	78.4±11.3	80.1±11.1	74.3±10.9	<0.001
25(OH)D (ng/mL)	19.5±7.4	20.3±7	17.3±8	<0.001
Normal (≥30)	144 (7.4)	103 (7.4)	41 (7.5)	0.957
Insufficiency (20-29.9) Deficiency (<20)	742 (38.1) 1,059 (54.4)	596 (42.7) 696 (49.9)	146 (26.5) 363 (66)	<0.001 <0.001
Total cholesterol (mg/dL)	193.4±34.8	193.4±35	193.6±34.4	0.916
Triglyceride (mg/dL)	138.9±91	153.1±98.3	102.8±54	<0.001
HDL cholesterol (mg/dL)	50.7±11.8	48.2±10.3	57.1±13.1	<0.001
LDL cholesterol (mg/dL)	119.2±25.6	120.4±25.7	116.2±25.3	0.001
Fasting glucose (mg/dL)	87.2±10.4	88.1±10.6	84.8±9.8	<0.001

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; VFA, visceral fat area; 25(OH)D; 25-hydroxyvitamin D; HDL, high density lipoprotein; LDL, low density lipoprotein. Variables are presented as mean±standard deviation or number (%).

P-value from an independent-sample t-test for continuous variables and χ

test for categorical variables.

Table 2.

Correlation between serum 25(OH)D and variables

	Men		Women
	r^a	P^b	r	P
Age	0.142	<0.001	0.305	<0.001
Body mass index	-0.127	<0.001	-0.134	0.002
Percentage body fat	-0.195	<0.001	-0.096	0.025
Visceral fat area	-0.185	<0.001	-0.153	<0.001
Systolic blood pressure	-0.079	0.003	-0.038	0.379
Diastolic blood pressure Total cholesterol	-0.115 -0.087	<0.001 0.001	-0.064 0.060	0.133 0.160
Triglyceride	-0.312	<0.001	-0.163	<0.001
High density lipoprotein cholesterol	0.058	0.031	0.006	0.892
Low density lipoprotein cholesterol	-0.029	0.284	0.105	0.014
Fasting glucose	-0.062	0.020	-0.029	0.493

Abbreviation: 25(OH)D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

Correlation coefficients.

P-value are calculated by Pearson correlation analysis.

Table 3.

Regression analysis of relationship between vitamin D and obesity indices

	Men		Women
	β±SE	P^a	β±SE	P
Model 1^b
Body mass index	-0.004±0.064	0.950	-0.342±0.111	0.002
Percentage body fat	-0.142±0.035	<0.001	-0.158±0.059	0.008
Visceral fat area	-0.018±0.007	0.008	-0.034±0.010	-0.149
Model 2^c
Body mass index Percentage body fat	-0.188±0.060 -0.211±0.033	0.002 <0.001	-0.492±0.100 -0.225±0.056	<0.001 <0.001
Visceral fat area	-0.032±0.006	<0.001	-0.046±0.009	<0.001

Abbreviation: SE, standard error.

P-value are calculated by multiple regression analysis.

Model 1 was adjusted for age, SBP, DBP, total cholesterol, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, glucose and season.

Model 2 was adjusted for age and season. Model 2 was final model.