Relationship with serum vitamin D levels and lipids

It's well known that vitamin D deficiency is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Vitamin D controls the synthesis of several hormons and enzymes. In this study we aimed to analyse the association of serum vitamin D levels with serum lipid levels retrospectively. All patients 18 years of age or older whose serum vitamin D and lipid levels are studied in our institution between January 2011 and August 2013 are enrolled. Patients with acute/chronic kidney or liver disease, patients with transplantation, patients with cancer or those who is under treatment with any lipid modifier drug (statins, fibrates, retioic acid, cyclosporine…) are not included. Patients who are included are then divided into 3 groups based on their serum vitamin D levels (<20 ng/ml, 20-30 ng/ml and >30 ng/ml). One-Way ANOVA test was used to compare the demographic and laboratory findings of groups; when there was a significant difference between groups, Bonferroni post-hoc anaylsis was performed to understand which group was the cause of difference. Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to search the association between serum vitamin D and serum lipid levels. Data are presented as mean±standard deviation. A p value of <0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. All anaylses are performed by using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 22.0 (SPSS 22.0). In our study there was statistically significant difference between groups for their serum HDL, LDL and total cholesterol levels. Total cholesterol and LDL levels were higher in vitamin D insufficiency group. HDL cholesterol was significantly lower in vitamin D insufficiency group. According to serum triglyceride levels there was no statistically significant difference between groups. In our study, HDL, LDL and total cholesterol levels were associated with serum vitamin D levels. Increased cardiovascular events in patients with vitamin D deficiency may contribute to the disorder of lipid parameters associated with vitamin D deficiency.