Evaluation of the anthropometric clinical measurements and Vitamin D status in kidney transplant recipients: Comparison between sexes

Abstract

Anthropometric clinical indexes have been used to verify the association of obesity with Vitamin D status; however, different reports have yielded conflicting results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between anthropometric clinical indexes and Vitamin D status in kidney transplant recipients (KTR), comparing by sex. Eighty-five KTR were selected and demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected. Anthropometric evaluation using clinical indexes and body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis were determined, and the patients compared by sex. No differences of serum 1,25-dihy-droxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) values between males and females were found. Females had higher abdominal obesity observed by waist/height ratio and waist/weight ratio, and also higher body fat%, than males. No correlation was found among the 25(OH)D levels and anthropometric data in both sexes. Since serum 25(OH)D concentrations could be influenced by body weight, we also analyzed the 25(OH)D/weight ratio, and this showed an inverse correlation with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), WC/height ratio, index, conicity index, and body fat%, in females. Moreover, the comparison of the 25(OH)D values among patients classified by BMI showed no differences between sexes. However, the 25(OH)D/weight ratio revealed lower values in overweight and obese patients compared with the normal BMI group, and progressively decreased as the BMI increased, mainly in females. The study suggests that KTR with higher abdominal obesity may need higher Vitamin D intake to obtain adequate serum 25(OH)D status, notably in females.