Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Jan;53(1):68-73.
doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002445.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Serum Vitamin D, and Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Men

Stephen W Farrell  1 , David Leonard  1 , Carolyn E Barlow  1 , Benjamin L Willis  1 , Andjelka Pavlovic  1 , Laura F Defina  1 , William L Haskell  2
Affiliations

Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Serum Vitamin D, and Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Men

Stephen W Farrell et al. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2021 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: Low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), vitamin D deficiency, and metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) are prevalent among U.S. adults. Joint associations among these variables are not well described.

Methods: Between 2006 and 2018, 14,353 apparently healthy men completed a comprehensive health examination, including CRF based on a maximal treadmill test, components of MetSyn, and serum vitamin D levels [25(OH)D]. Participants were classified into groups of low (category 1), moderate (categories 2-3), and high (categories 4-5) CRF by age-group, as well as by clinical cut points for MetSyn and 25(OH)D. We calculated odds ratios (OR) of MetSyn across levels of CRF and 25(OH)D and also examined joint associations among these three variables.

Results: Mean 25(OH)D levels were 30.9 ± 11.6 and 26.3 ± 10.7 ng·mL in men without and with MetSyn, respectively (P < 0.001). The prevalence of MetSyn was inversely associated with ordered categories of CRF and 25(OH)D (Ptrend < 0.001 for both). Men with normal 25(OH)D had significantly lower odds of MetSyn than men who were vitamin D deficient (OR = 0.29, 95% confidence interval = 0.26-0.33). Men with moderate (OR = 0.31, 0.27-0.35) or high CRF (OR = 0.08, 0.07-0.09) had significantly lower odds of MetSyn than men with low CRF. Joint associations between CRF, 25(OH)D, and MetSyn revealed significantly greater prevalence of MetSyn in unfit men compared with fit men within each category of 25(OH)D (P < 0.001). Each 5 ng·mL increment of 25(OH)D and 1 MET increment of CRF was associated with a 16.0% and 31.3% lower prevalence of MetSyn, respectively.

Conclusion: There are strong individual and joint associations between CRF, 25(OH)D, and MetSyn. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate these joint associations with regard to mortality outcomes.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Benjamin EJ, Muntner P, Alonso A, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics—2019 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation . 2019;139(10):e56–66.
    1. Reaven GM. Banting lecture 1988. Role of insulin resistance in human disease. Diabetes . 1988;37(12):1595–607.
    1. Alberti KG, Eckel RH, Grundy SM, et al. Harmonizing the metabolic syndrome: a joint interim statement of the International Diabetes Federation Task Force on Epidemiology and Prevention; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; American Heart Association; World Heart Federation; International Atherosclerosis Society; and International Association for the Study of Obesity. Circulation . 2009;120(16):1640–5.
    1. Wilson PW, D’Agostino RB, Parise H, Sullivan L, Meigs JB. Metabolic syndrome as a precursor of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Circulation . 2005;112(20):3066–72.
    1. Ford ES. Risks for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes associated with the metabolic syndrome: a summary of the evidence. Diabetes Care . 2005;28(7):1769–78.