Low Vitamin D and Metabolic Syndrome

(July 2, 2010) - Many seniors appear deficient in vitamin D (Read about "Vitamins & Minerals") and that may increase their risk of developing metabolic syndrome. (Read about "Metabolic Syndrome") Metabolic syndrome is defined as having at least three of the following:

• abdominal obesity (Read about "Obesity" "Waist-to-Hip Ratio")
• high blood pressure (Read about "Hypertension: High Blood Pressure")
• glucose intolerance
• high triglycerides
• low HDL cholesterol (Read about "Cholesterol")

Having metabolic syndrome puts you at greater risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. (Read about "The Heart & Cardiovascular System" "Diabetes")

"Because the metabolic syndrome increases the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, an adequate vitamin D level in the body might be important in the prevention of these diseases," said study co-author Marelise Eekhoff, MD, PhD.

The researchers found a 48 percent prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. The study consisted of a representative sample of: nearly 1,300 white men and women ages 65 and older. Nearly 37 percent of the total sample had the metabolic syndrome.

Subjects with blood levels of vitamin D (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D) lower than 50 nanomoles per liter, considered vitamin D insufficiency, were likelier to have the metabolic syndrome than those whose vitamin D levels exceeded 50. That increased risk especially stemmed from the presence of two risk factors for the metabolic syndrome: low HDL, or "good" cholesterol, and a large waistline.

There was no difference in risk between men and women, the authors noted.