Hypovitaminosis D is associated with reductions in serum apolipoprotein A-I but not with fasting lipids in British Bangladeshis.

BACKGROUND

Although hypovitaminosis D has been suggested to increase the risk of heart disease, its relation to components of the fasting lipid profile has not been clarified for specific ethnic groups.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to determine the relation of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations to fasting lipid concentrations in South Asian subjects at risk of hypovitaminosis D.

DESIGN

The present study was conducted in 170 British Bangladeshi adults, 69 men and 101 women, from east London who were free of known diabetes or chronic disorders. Vitamin D repletion was assessed by measuring fasting serum 25(OH)D concentrations. Fasting lipid profiles were measured as part of a study of the risk factors for type 2 diabetes and ischemic heart disease, which included hypovitaminosis D.

RESULTS

A univariate analysis showed that total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and both apolipoprotein (apo) A-I and apo B concentrations correlated directly with serum 25(OH)D concentrations. However, a multiple regression analysis, which included all the documented risk factors for diabetes and ischemic heart disease, showed that the 25(OH)D concentration (vitamin D status) was an independent predictor of increasing apo A-I concentrations (standardized coefficient beta = 0.3; P < 0.001) but not of fasting lipid concentrations.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study of British South Asians, the data showed a positive relation of fasting apo A-I concentrations to serum 25(OH)D concentrations, independent of glycemia and other dietary, anthropometric, and lifestyle risk factors for type 2 diabetes and ischemic heart disease after multiple regression analyses. Subjects with hypovitaminosis D are likely to have an increased risk of ischemic heart disease independent of their increased risk of type 2 diabetes.