Abstract P171: Vitamin D and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: The Jerusalem Perinatal Study

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D, a pleotropic hormone, influences cellular and tissue functions that are potentially related to cardiometabolic risk. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency have also been related to cardiovascular diseases. However, relationships between vitamin D and cardiometabolic risk factors in young adults are not well-characterized. Methods: We examined associations of vitamin D with cardiometabolic risk factors among a subset of the Jerusalem Perinatal Study (JPS) population, a birth cohort of Jerusalem residents born between 1974 and 1976. Offsprings aged 30-35 years, sampled based on maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and offspring birth weight, and their mothers were recruited as part of the JPS-1 study. Data were collected using interviews and field physical examinations. Fasting blood specimens were obtained for vitamin D and biomarker (glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides) measurements. We used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy to measure total vitamin D (25-[OH] D). Sample-weighted multiple regression models, adjusted for potential confounders, were used to examine associations, and determine coefficients and 95% confidence intervals. Results: Mean total vitamin D levels were 22.27ng/ml, 23.48ng/ml and 21.03ng/ml among all study participants, males (N=617) and females (N=588), respectively. Vitamin D levels were statistically different between males and females (p-value <0.001). Current smokers had higher vitamin D levels compared with non-smokers, even after adjustment for current BMI, ethnicity, occupation and other potential confounders (β=1.41, p-value= 0.039). Overall, higher vitamin D levels were associated with lower BMI (p-values 0.002) and lower diastolic blood pressure (p-values 0.011). Conclusion: Vitamin D is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in young adults. The unexpected association between current smoking and higher vitamin D in our study needs replication and further investigation.