The impact of vitamin D status on cardiometabolic effects of fenofibrate in women with atherogenic dyslipidemia

Abstract

Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for cardiometabolic disease. The aim of this study was to determine the role of vitamin D status in the impact of fenofibrate on plasma levels of cardiometabolic risk factors. The study population (n = 61) consisted of three matched groups of women with atherogenic dyslipidaemia: vitamin D‐naïve women with vitamin D insufficiency (group A), women receiving vitamin D preparations because of vitamin D deficiency (group B), as well as vitamin D‐naïve women with normal vitamin D status (group C), who were treated with micronized fenofibrate (200 mg daily). Glucose homeostasis markers, plasma lipids, as well as plasma levels of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D, uric acid, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP), fibrinogen and homocysteine were determined at the beginning of the study and 6 months later. At entry, group A was characterized by lower levels of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D, reduced insulin sensitivity and higher concentrations of uric acid, hsCRP, fibrinogen and homocysteine. Apart from a weaker effect on HDL‐cholesterol and triglycerides in group A, there were no differences between the treatment arms in the effect of fenofibrate on plasma lipids. However, only in groups B and C the drug improved insulin sensitivity and reduced circulating levels of uric acid and hsCRP, as well as increased levels of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D and these effects correlated with the degree of improvement in insulin sensitivity. Treatment‐induced increase in homocysteine was observed only in group A. The results of the study indicate that cardiometabolic effects of fibrates may depend on the vitamin D status of patients

The role of vitamin D in autoimmune diseases: could sex make the difference?

“…Notably, growing evidence suggests a cross-talk between sex hormones and vitamin D. While studies on the interaction between androgens and vitamin D are at the beginning [30], the interaction between estrogens and vitamin D has been more widely investigated supporting the synergistic role of these hormones in sex bias of autoimmune diseases.…”

Vitamin D Status Determines Cardiometabolic Effects of Cabergoline in Women with Elevated Prolactin Levels: A Pilot Study

“…On the basis of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels measured on two separate occasions, the participants were assigned to one of three groups: vitamin D-naive women with vitamin D insufficiency (group A; n = 28); subjects with normal vitamin D status treated for at least 6 months with 50–100 μg (2000–4000 IU daily) of oral vitamin D preparations due to vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency (group B; n = 29); and vitamin D-naive women with normal vitamin D status (group C, n = 29). Vitamin D deficiency was defined as plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels below 50 nmol/L (20 ng/mL), vitamin D insufficiency as plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels between 50 and 75 nmol/L (20 and 30 ng/mL), and normal vitamin D status as plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels between 75 and 150 nmol/L (30 and 60 ng/mL) [ 34 ]. To match study groups for age, body mass index (BMI), homeostatic model assessment 1 insulin resistance ratio (HOMA1-IR), and plasma prolactin levels, groups B and C were chosen from a larger pool of eligible participants (48 and 47, respectively).…”