Vitamin D level regulates serum lipids discrepantly in adults with and without dyslipidemia

Abstract

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with hyperlipidemia, but it remains unclear whether vitamin D supplementation reduces serum lipid levels. The aims of this study were to investigate the associations between increased serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations and lipid levels and identify the characteristics of people with or without lipid reduction associated with increased 25(OH)D levels. The medical records of 118 individuals (53 men; mean age, 54.4 ± 10.6 years) whose serum 25(OH)D levels increased between 2 consecutive measurements were retrospectively reviewed. People with increased 25(OH)D levels (from 22.7 (17.6-29.2) to 32.1 (25.6-36.8) mg/dL; P < 0.01) had a significant reduction in serum levels of triglycerides (TGs) (from 111.0 (80-164) to 104.5 (73-142) mg/dL; P < 0.01) and total cholesterol (TC) (from 187.5 (155-213) to 181.0 (150-210) mg/dL; P < 0.05). The individuals who responded to vitamin D (≥10% reduction in TG or TC levels) exhibited significantly higher baseline TG and TC levels than those who did not. Only patients with hyperlipidemia (not those without hyperlipidemia) at baseline exhibited significantly reduced TG and TC levels at follow-up. However, increasing serum 25(OH)D concentrations were significantly correlated with decreasing lipid levels in individuals with baseline 25(OH)D levels less than 30 ng/mL and in individuals aged 50-65 years (not in patients younger than 50 years or older than 65 years). In conclusion, increasing serum 25(OH)D concentrations may be potentially helpful for the treatment of hyperlipidemia in people with vitamin D deficiency.

Keywords: age; cholesterol; lipid; triglycerides; vitamin D.

Figure 1

Flow diagram of study individual enrollment process. 25(OH)D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

Figure 2

Changes in serum lipid levels with increasing levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) differed between individuals with or without hypertriglyceridemia. Baseline and follow-up levels of (A) total cholesterol, (B) triglycerides, (C) low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and (D) high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in individuals with triglyceride levels higher or lower than 150 mg/dL. *P < 0.05 and ***P < 0.005. n, number of subjects.

Figure 3

Changes in serum lipid level with increasing levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) varied between individuals with or without hypercholesterolemia. Baseline and follow-up levels of (A) total cholesterol, (B) triglycerides, (C) low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and (D) high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in individuals with total cholesterol levels higher or lower than 200 mg/dL. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 and ***P < 0.005. n, number of subjects.

Figure 4

Changes in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels with increasing levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) were modulated by baseline 25(OH)D levels, sex, and age. Baseline and follow-up levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides in (A) individuals with baseline 25(OH)D levels greater or less than 30 ng/mL, (B) men and women, and (C) individuals aged <50 years, aged 50–65 years, and >65 years. *P < 0.05 and ***P < 0.005. n, number of subjects.