The Association Between Vitamin D Levels, Body Mass Index (BMI), and Dietary Patterns in Iraqi Women

Abdulhadi Mohamed Jumaa

doi:10.51699/cajmns.v7i2.3149

Authors

Abdulhadi Mohamed Jumaa Department of physiology, college of medicine, Tikrit university, Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51699/cajmns.v7i2.3149

Keywords:

Vitamin D, Body Mass Index, Sun Exposure, Obesity

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D makes an important contribution to a variety of processes in human health, including immune system and bone metabolism and other metabolic processes. There are many reports that have shown an inverse association between body mass index (BMI) and blood vitamin D concentrations suggesting an association between vitamin D deprivation and the states of obesity. The incidence of vitamin D deficiency is very common in Iraq, in spite of the amount of solar exposure the population is receiving, especially in females. The association of body mass index (BMI) with vitamin D in Iraqi women remain poorly understood and needs to be further investigated. The aim of this study was to provide an insight into the association of BMI and the blood level of vitamin D in Iraqi women, as well as, the effect of sun exposure, physical activity, and consumption of vitamin D on the status of this vitamin. Patients and Methods: This cross sectional study included 98 Iraqi women and classified them into three groups according to BMI; normal weight:(BMI < 25kg/m²), overweight:(BMI ≤ 30kg/m²) and obese:(BMI ≥ 30kg/m²). Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were measured using chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA). Lifestyle factors were assessed, including sunlight exposure, physical activity (steps taken daily), and food vitamin D. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between BMI and vitamin D levels, and a one-way ANOVA was performed to evaluate the difference in vitamin D levels between groups of subjects with different BMIs. Because vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, multiple linear regression analysis was carried out in order to determine independent variables associated with vitamin D status. Results: The relationship between serum 25(OH)D and BMI was inverse (r = −0.41, p = 0.032). Women that did not get adequate sunshine each day had significantly lower vitamin D levels (p = 0.014). Increased physical activity (6,000 steps/day) was inversely associated with serum vitamin D levels (p = 0.027). • Based on results from multiple linear regression, BMI had a significant adverse effect on human vitamin D status (β = −0.34; p = 0.039). Conclusion: Over-weight or obese Iraqi women had lower vitamin D levels than those with normal weight. In contrast, the results demonstrate that consumption of dairy products, higher sunshine and increased physical activities, in relation to vitamin D levels, has improved.

References

V. P. Thomas and J. J. Jacob, “Falls, fractures, and mortality: The role of calcium and vitamin D replacement in rural India,” Indian J. Endocrinol. Metab., vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 259–260, 2021, doi: 10.4103/2230-8210.332238.

E. Ehrampoush, J. M. Razzaz, H. Arjmand, O. Osati, and R. Homayounfar, “The association of vitamin D levels and insulin resistance,” Clin. Nutr. ESPEN, vol. 42, pp. 325–332, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2021.01.012.

A. M. Jumaa, “Comparative study of vitamin D levels in diabetic and non-diabetic women and its correlation with age and seasonal variation,” Tikrit J. Pure Sci., vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 23–29, 2019.

H. Ahyayauch, “European journal of clinical and experimental medicine,” Eur. J. Clin. Exp. Med., vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 357–364, 2023.

A. V. Sahasrabuddhe, S. U. Pital, M. Gupta, S. Chari, and M. Sagdeo, “Study of vitamin D levels and its correlation with insulin resistance,” Natl. J. Physiol. Pharm. Pharmacol., vol. 7, 2017, doi: 10.5455/njppp.2017.0309424042017.

S. T. Ali, H. T. Qadir, S. K. Moufak, M. A. M. Al-Badri, and M. N. Abbas, “A statistical study to determine the factors of vitamin D deficiency in men: The city of Baghdad as a model,” Indian J. Forensic Med. Toxicol., vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 691–696, 2020.

L. Mahmodnia, M. R. Tamadon, M. Sadoughi, and S. Beigrezaei, “Vitamin D status and its relationship with age in type 2 diabetic patients,” J. Parathyroid Dis., vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 45–48, 2017.

A. M. Jumaa, M. A. Khalaf, and H. Y. Hassan, “Determination of vitamin D concentration in diabetic and non diabetic men and its correlation with age,” Indian J. Forensic Med. Toxicol., vol. 15, no. 3, 2021.

Z. Subber, G. Al-Shamma, and H. Hashim, “The total and free vitamin D in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Baghdad city,” Baghdad J. Biochem. Appl. Biol. Sci., vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 80–94, 2021.

S. I. Z. Zaidi and T. A. K. Shirwany, “Relationship of serum resistin with insulin resistance and obesity,” J. Ayub Med. Coll. Abbottabad, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 552–555, 2015.

I. H. Jawad and H. A. L. Baiee, “Vitamin D level status and diabetes mellitus among old adult Iraqi people in Al Hillah city,” Medico-Legal Update, vol. 20, no. 2, 2020.

G. Muscogiuri et al., “Vitamin D and pre-diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis,” Acta Diabetol., vol. 54, no. 7, pp. 699–707, 2017.

K. Amrein et al., “Vitamin D deficiency 2.0: An update on the current status worldwide,” Eur. J. Clin. Nutr., vol. 74, no. 11, pp. 1498–1513, 2020, doi: 10.1038/s41430-020-0558-y.

M. B. Demay et al., “Vitamin D for the prevention of disease: An endocrine society clinical practice guideline,” J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., vol. 109, no. 8, pp. 1907–1947, 2024, doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgae290.

O. Yerlikaya, “A review of fermented milks: Potential beneficial effects on human nutrition and health,” Afr. Health Sci., vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 498–507, 2023, doi: 10.4314/ahs.v23i4.54.

R. Hasanato et al., “High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in healthy female medical students in central Saudi Arabia: Impact of nutritional and environmental factors,” Acta Endocrinol., vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 257–261, 2015, doi: 10.4183/aeb.2015.257.

F. L. Crowe et al., “Plasma concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in meat eaters, fish eaters, vegetarians, and vegans: Results from the EPIC-Oxford study,” Public Health Nutr., vol. 14, pp. 340–346, 2011, doi: 10.1017/S1368980010002454.

K. D. Cashman, “Vitamin D: Dietary requirements and food fortification as a means of helping achieve adequate vitamin D status,” J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol., vol. 148, pp. 19–26, 2015, doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2015.01.023.

G. Sotoudeh et al., “Vitamin D deficiency mediates the relationship between dietary patterns and depression: A case-control study,” Ann. Gen. Psychiatry, vol. 19, p. 37, 2020, doi: 10.1186/s12991-020-00288-1.

A. Al-Othman et al., “Effect of physical activity and sun exposure on vitamin D status of Saudi children and adolescents,” BMC Pediatr., vol. 12, pp. 1–6, 2012, doi: 10.1186/1471-2431-12-92.

S. H. Cho et al., “Comparison of two strategies to increase serum vitamin D levels in a real-world setting: Sunlight exposure and oral supplementation,” J. Nutr. Sci. Vitaminol., vol. 67, pp. 384–390, 2021, doi: 10.3177/jnsv.67.384.

A. R. Young et al., “A revised action spectrum for vitamin D synthesis by sub-erythemal UV radiation exposure in humans in vivo,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., vol. 118, no. 40, e2015867118, 2021, doi: 10.1073/pnas.2015867118.