Differential Association of Vitamin D Deficiency With Albuminuria by Sex in the Korean General Population: A Cross-sectional Study of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2012

• Published in: Journal of preventive medicine and public health Vol. 51; no. 2; pp. 92 - 99
• Main Authors: Jeon, Yongwoo, Shin, Jaeyong, Jhee, Jong Hyun, Cho, Youngdae, Park, Eun-Cheol
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Society for Preventive Medicine 01.03.2018; 대한예방의학회
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Albuminuria; Albuminuria - epidemiology; Biomarkers; Body Mass Index; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Kidney Function Tests - methods; Korea; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Nutrition Surveys; Obesity - epidemiology; Original; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; Sex Factors; Smoking; Smoking - epidemiology; Vitamin D deficiency; Vitamin D Deficiency - epidemiology; 예방의학; Vitamin D deficiency; Albuminuria; Sex factors; Korea; Smoking
• ISSN: 1975-8375; 2233-4521; 2233-4521
• DOI: 10.3961/jpmph.17.005

Albuminuria has emerged as a biomarker for several medical conditions, and vitamin D has received attention due to its associations with various disorders. We evaluated the association between low serum vitamin D levels and prevalent albuminuria by sex in the Korean general population. We analyzed 9823 participants (4401 males, 5422 females) from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2012 (KNHANES V-2), and categorized them as having a normal range of vitamin D levels, vitamin D insufficiency, or vitamin D deficiency. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to compare the risk of albuminuria across these groups. Stratified analyses were conducted by smoking status, obesity, and renal function. Albuminuria was found in 325 of the 4401 male participants (7.4%) and in 455 of the 5422 female participants (8.4%). Among the males, vitamin D deficiency was associated with an odds ratio (OR) for albuminuria of 1.78 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07 to 2.97, p<0.05). However, such an association was not found in females. The association was stronger in male current smokers (OR, 3.54; 95% CI, 1.47 to 8.50; p=0.005). The findings of this study suggest that sex differences exist in the association between serum vitamin D deficiency and albuminuria. Additionally, we observed that the association was stronger in current smokers than in the overall male population, but was not seen in non-smokers. Therefore, different approaches by sex and smoking status might be needed when considering using vitamin D as a biomarker for renal function.