Vitamin D deficiency and airflow limitation in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Ageing

M. Moberg*, P. Elango, L. Ferrucci, M.A. Spruit, E.F. Wouters, E.P.A. Rutten

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and has also been linked to comorbidities often present in COPD. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate whether vitamin D deficiency was related specifically to airflow limitation or whether vitamin D deficiency was determined by conditions that frequently coexist with COPD: insulin resistance, hypertension, anaemia, obesity and hypercholesterolaemia. METHODS: For this cross-sectional analysis, we included 897 subjects from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Subjects taking vitamin D supplements were excluded. Airflow limitation was defined as FEV1 /FVC < lower limit of normal. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between vitamin D deficiency (25-hydroxy vitamin D < 20 ng/mL) and possible determinants. RESULTS: Vitamin D deficiency was not specific for subjects with airflow limitation. Body mass index (BMI) (OR: 1.05, P < 0.03) and obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m(2)) (OR: 1.9, P < 0.002) were significantly associated with vitamin D deficiency in the adjusted multivariate regression analysis. Physical activity was associated with a decreased risk of vitamin D deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Airflow limitation was not an independent determinant of vitamin D deficiency. The effect of weight loss and increased physical activity on vitamin D levels should be investigated further in intervention studies.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)955-963
JournalEuropean Journal of Clinical Investigation
Volume45
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2015

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