Written by Chrystal Moulton, Staff Writer. Deficient levels of serum 25(OH)D (<12ng/mL) is associated with increased risk of all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular mortality in Korean adults.
In this retrospective study, researchers analyzed information from the Korean national database to evaluate the association between serum vitamin D and the risk of mortality.
Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and Cause of Death Survey (KNHANES) between the years 2008-2014 was used in this trial. Participants data was selected based on age, sex, angiographic area. KNHANES data was compared to death records up to December 31st, 2019. Of the 61,379 participants who agreed to mortality follow up, 22,742 subjects were selected for this study (9325 men and 13,417 women). Participants between the age 30-80 years old were included in this analysis. Subjects were divided into three groups based on serum 25(OH) D levels: deficient (<12 ng/mL), insufficient (12- 19 ng/mL), and sufficient (≥20 ng/mL). Demographic characteristics and lifestyle were collected through a standard interview process when the Korean national database survey was conducted. Participants reported their household income, history of alcohol consumption, physical activity, smoking status, and education. Death records of the selected participants were confirmed by reviewing medical records and mortality certificates. Of the total participants, 1070 subjects died by the end of the year 2019. The three primary cause of death that were end points of this analysis were: cancer (345 deaths), cardiovascular disease (224 deaths), and all-cause mortality.
Retrospective analysis showed that participants with sufficient serum 25(OH)D levels were more likely to be obese, drank alcohol, or was diagnosed with hypertension or diabetes. Younger females who had higher educational status and lived in urban areas tended to have a lower level of serum 25(OH)D. Individuals with deficient serum vitamin D levels we are at higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 1.71, P< 0.001), cardiovascular mortality (HR = 1.72, P = 0.046), and cancer mortality (HR = 1.83, P = 0.008). Individuals with insufficient levels of serum vitamin D were at higher risk for all cause (HR = 1.28, P = 0.009) and cancer mortality (HR = 1.36, P = 0.058). When researchers stratified this data based on sex, men were at much higher risk of death by all cause, cancer, and cardiovascular mortality than women (P < 0.05). Researchers further analyzed the data based on pre-existing condition of hypertension. They found a significant correlation between all-cause mortality (P < 0.05), cardiovascular mortality (P < 0.05), and cancer mortality (P < 0.05) in participants with either insufficient or deficient levels of serum 25(OH)D.
Overall, analysis of data from the Korean national database showed that deficient levels of serum 25(OH)D (<12ng/mL) is associated with increased risk of all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular mortality in Korean adults. Data also showed that individuals with hypertension who had concomitant low serum vitamin D levels were also at significant risk of all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular mortality. Additionally, men with serum vitamin D levels <20 ng/mL were significantly at higher risk of mortality due to cancer, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality compared to women. Further studies are needed to verify these results.
Source: Park, Dahyun, Juhee Lee, Clara-Yongjoo Park, and Min-Jeong Shin. “Low Vitamin D Status Is Associated with Increased Risk of Mortality in Korean Men and Adults with Hypertension: A Population-Based Cohort Study.” Nutrients 14, no. 9 (2022): 1849.
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Posted July 5, 2022.
Chrystal Moulton BA, PMP, is a 2008 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago. She graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology with a focus on premedical studies and is a licensed project manager. She currently resides in Indianapolis, IN.
Reference:
Park, Dahyun, et al. “Low Vitamin D Status Is Associated with Increased Risk of Mortality in Korean Men and Adults with Hypertension: A Population-Based Cohort Study.” Nutrients 14.9 (2022): 1849.
