Association between vitamin D status and metabolic syndrome risk among Korean population: Based on the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV-2, 2008

AimsLow serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels have been linked to metabolic syndrome. However, community-based data for healthy Korean individuals are lacking. We aimed to assess the vitamin D status and the association of 25(OH)D deficiency with metabolic syndrome in the South Korean population (latitude 33–38°N).MethodsIn this population-based study, we assessed 5559 South Korean adults selected from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV-2, 2008. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to assess the association between vitamin D deficiency and metabolic syndrome.ResultsThe prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) was 56.0%. Subjects with vitamin D deficiency were younger and had higher education, lower physical activity, and lower alcohol consumption than those with normal vitamin D levels. The overall risk of metabolic syndrome was not associated with 25(OH)D concentration. The adjusted OR of reduced high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) decreased across the quintiles of 25(OH)D concentrations (OR = 0.72; 95% confidence interval = 0.54–0.95 for comparisons of lowest vs. highest quintile; P for trend = 0.003).ConclusionsA high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was noted in the general South Korean population. Serum 25(OH)D concentration was inversely associated with the risk of having reduced HDL-C.