25-hydroxy vitamin D levels associated with cardiovascular risk factors among military personnel based on obesity status

Abstract

Introduction Vitamin D is an essential prohormone for body functions. Obesity and vitamin D deficiency both affect each other. Many obese individuals exhibit a combination of metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors. Methods The present study was conducted cross-sectional in 2023. The study population was considered to be 216 military personnel from Tehran. Blood samples were taken from the subjects to measure high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), fasting blood sugar (FBS), and 25-hydroxy vitamin D. Height, weight, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulse were also measured. Using a questionnaire, demographic information and information about the history of some diseases were collected from the study subjects. Results The mean age was 41.06 years, and the mean work experience was 8.02 years. A higher percentage of diabetic or pre-diabetic subjects were obese or overweight (p < 0.001). The average level of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) in subjects with normal weight was 27.23 times lower than other subjects. In normal-weight subjects in the study, there was a negative association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and DBP (β= -0.061). Conclusion We discovered a significant link between 25-hydroxyvitamin D insufficiency in military personnel and heightened cardiovascular risk factors. Subsequent studies employing a longitudinal approach are necessary to validate our results and shed more light on the influence of vitamin D on cardiovascular risk.