Vitamin D deficiency and visceral adipose tissue in early pregnant women

Rosangela Cisneiros,Álvaro Pacheco,Francisco Bandeira,Eloíse Paixão,Marcelo Lima,João Guilherme Alves,Ítalo Bacellar,Juliana Segatto

doi:10.1186/s12884-021-03888-1

Abstract

BackgroundWe aimed to assess the correlation between vitamin D serum level and visceral fat tissue during early pregnancy.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was performed in Pernambuco, Brazil. 190 low risk pregnant women (8–16 gestational weeks) were eligible. Visceral adipose tissue was measured by ultrasonography following the technique described by Armellini. The 25(OH) D in serum was determined through chemiluminescence. The Spearman correlation test was applied to evaluate the correlation between vitamin D serum level and VAT, considering p < 0.05 to be significant.ResultsVitamin D insufficiency was present in 129 (67.8 %) of subjects. Pregnant women with or without vitamin D deficiency did not differ in age, gestational age, nutritional status and visceral adipose tissue. No correlation between visceral adipose tissue and 25(OH) D was observed: − 0.057 (p = 0.435).ConclusionsMaternal visceral adipose tissue and vitamin D serum level are not correlated during pregnancy.

Highlights

We aimed to assess the correlation between vitamin D serum level and visceral fat tissue during early pregnancy
It is believed that Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is associated with obesity, and adipose tissue may be responsible for its lower bioavailability
Pregnant women with or without VDD did not differ in age, gestational age, nutritional status and Visceral Adipose Tissue (VAT) (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

We aimed to assess the correlation between vitamin D serum level and visceral fat tissue during early pregnancy. The Spearman correlation test was applied to evaluate the correlation between vitamin D serum level and VAT, considering p < 0.05 to be significant. It is believed that VDD is associated with obesity, and adipose tissue may be responsible for its lower bioavailability. Hao et al found an inversely association between vitamin level and VAT in Chinese men [14]. Zhang et al reported a significant negative association between VAT and VDD in men and premenopausal women but not in post-menopausal women [15]. Batista et al found that excess visceral adiposity, Cisneiros et al BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (2021) 21:476 hypertriglyceridemia and high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were strong predictors of hypovitaminosis D [16]. A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials reported positive effects of VD supplementation on fat mass [17]

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