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Low vitamin D levels linked with greater risk for CV risk factors

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AHA 49th Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention

Adolescents with low levels of vitamin D were at increased risk for hyperglycemia, hypertension and metabolic syndrome, according to data presented at the American Heart Association’s 49th Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention in Palm Harbor, Fla.

Researchers analyzed 3,577 adolescents aged 12 to 19 years (51% boys) who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The ethnic breakdown was similar to the U.S. general population: non-Hispanic white, 64.7%; non-Hispanic black, 13.5%; and Mexican-American, 11%.

“We showed strong associations between low levels of vitamin D and higher risk for high blood pressure, hyperglycemia and metabolic syndrome among adolescents, confirming the results of studies among adults,” Jared P. Reis, PhD, postdoctoral research fellow at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said in a press release.

After adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, BMI, socioeconomic status and physical activity, adolescents with the lowest vitamin D levels were 2.36 times more likely to have hypertension, 2.54 times more likely to have hyperglycemia and 3.99 times more likely to have metabolic syndrome.

White adolescents had the highest average levels of vitamin D (28 ng/mL), blacks had the lowest (15.5 ng/mL) and Mexican-Americans had intermediate levels (21.5 ng/mL). This study’s results indicated the association between high levels of vitamin D and risk for heart disease; however, further clinical trials are warranted, the researchers concluded.

For more information:

• Reis JP. #P54. Presented at: American Heart Association’s 49th Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention; March 10-14, 2009; Palm Harbor, Fla.