Association of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Vitamin D Intake with the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Adults: 2013-2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in Korea and an insufficient vitamin D status increases the risk of various chronic diseases including metabolic syndrome (MetS). We examined the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels, dietary vitamin D intake, and MetS. The 2013-2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey's (KNHANES) included participants (n = 4.541; 1145 men; 1368 women) who were aged >= 19. In men, higher serum 25(OH)D levels were correlated with significantly increased protein intake (p = 0.032) and saturated fatty acid intake (p = 0.006), but significantly decreased fat intake (p = 0.027), monounsaturated fatty acid intake (p = 0.005), and polyunsaturated fatty acid intake (p = 0.003), and significantly decreased serum triglycerides levels (p = 0.002), whereas women had no association with any dietary intake or biochemical markers. Furthermore, our study found a significant negative correlation between abdominal obesity (OR, 0.970; CI, 0.946, 0.994) and hypertriglyceridemia (OR, 0.974; CI, 0.950, 0.998) and serum 25(OH)D levels in men, as well as a significant decrease in hypertriglyceridemia (OR, 0.980; CI, 0.961, 0.999) with vitamin D intake. However, women had a significantly negative correlation between serum LDL cholesterol (beta, -1.751; p = 0.018) and vitamin D intake. By increasing the vitamin D intake and serum 25(OH)D levels, Korean adults could reduce their risk of MetS-related factors.

Automated summary

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in Korea and is associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases such as metabolic syndrome. In this study, it was found that higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in men were correlated with increased protein and saturated fatty acid intake, but decreased fat, monounsaturated fatty acid, and polyunsaturated fatty acid intake. There was also a negative correlation between abdominal obesity and hypertriglyceridemia with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in men. Increasing vitamin D intake and serum levels could help reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome-related factors in Korean adults.