Sex and body mass index dependent associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and pulse pressure in middle-aged and older US adults

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 9989
• Main Authors: Kwak, Jung Hyun, Choi, Yoon-Hyeong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 11.05.2021; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D; 631/114/2415; 692/308/174; 692/499; 692/699/75/243; 704/172/4081; Blood Pressure; Body Mass Index; Body weight; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Hypertension - etiology; Male; Middle Aged; multidisciplinary; Nutrition Surveys; Overweight; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sex; Sex Factors; Vascular Stiffness; Vitamin D; Vitamin D - analogs & derivatives; Vitamin D - blood; Vitamin D Deficiency - complications
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88855-8

High pulse pressure (PP) is a valid indicator of arterial stiffness. Many studies have reported that vitamin D concentration is inversely associated with vascular stiffening. This association may differ depending on sex and body mass index (BMI). This study investigated the associations between vitamin D and PP and evaluated whether these associations differ according to sex and BMI, using data for individuals aged ≥ 50 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2010. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations were used as biomarkers of vitamin D levels. High PP was defined as ≥ 60 mmHg. Total 25(OH)D concentrations were dose-dependently associated with lower odds ratios (ORs) for high PP ( p- trend = 0.01), after controlling for sociodemographic, behavioral, and dietary factors. When stratified by sex, there was a dose-dependent association between total 25(OH)D concentrations and lower risk of high PP ( p- trend < 0.001) in females, but not in males. When stratified by BMI, there was a dose-dependent association between total 25(OH)D concentrations and lower risk of high PP ( p- trend < 0.001) in non-overweight subjects, but not in overweight subjects. Improving the vitamin D status could delay elevation of PP and vascular stiffening in female and non-overweight subjects.