Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and metabolic health status in extremely obese individuals.

Abstract

Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in obese individuals. 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in metabolically healthy obese (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO) adult individuals were examined and the relationship between 25(OH)D levels and other clinical parameters was evaluated. This is a retrospective chart review of outpatient medical records from the Nutrition and Weight Management Center at Boston Medical Center. Subjects were divided into two groups, MHO and MUO, using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance criteria. A total of 191 obese subjects were included in this analysis. The average body mass index (BMI) was 43.0 ± 9.2 kg/m(2) . Sixty-three subjects (33%) met criteria for MHO. MHO subjects had lower BMI and waist circumferences compared to MUO subjects. 25(OH)D levels were not significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.242). Overall, there were high prevalences of vitamin D deficiency (48.7%) and vitamin D insufficiency (33.0%). 25(OH)D levels were inversely correlated with BMI, body weight, waist circumferences, and HbA1c levels but not with blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides, or LDL. In extremely obese individuals, 25(OH)D levels were not related to metabolic health status or insulin resistance but correlated with the degree of adiposity.