Gender difference in the relationship between anemia and vitamin D in Korean adults: the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and anemia, by gender, in Korean adults. The data of 16,060 adults were analyzed (men, 6,840; premenopausal women, 4,916; postmenopausal women, 4,340) from the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V) (2010-2012). There were several key findings. First, after adjusting for related variables, the odds ratio (OR) of anemia [hemoglobin (Hb) <13 g/dl in men or Hb <12 g/dl in women] using the vitamin D normal group {25-hydroxyvitamin [25(OH)D] ≥15.0 ng/ml} as reference, was significant for the vitamin D deficient group [25(OH)D <15.0 ng/ml] in the overall population [OR, 1.310; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.168-1.470]. Second, the OR of anemia, using the vitamin D normal group as reference, was significant for the vitamin D deficient group in premenopausal women (OR, 1.293; 95% CI, 1.105-1.513). However, vitamin D deficiency in the vitamin D normal group in men (OR, 1.093; 95% CI, 0.806-1.484) and postmenopausal women (OR, 1.130; 95% CI, 0.906-1.409) was not significant. In conclusion, Vitamin D deficiency is positively associated with anemia in premenopausal women, but not in men and postmenopausal women.