Vitamin D Levels and Their Relationship with Lipid Metabolism and Inflammatory Markers in Healthy Adults

Abstract

Objective: This study investigates the associations between serum vitamin D levels and biochemical, hematological, and inflammatory markers in a healthy adult population, focusing on their implications for lipid metabolism and systemic inflammation. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical records of 267 individuals aged 18–65 years, who presented to the internal medicine outpatient clinic with complaints of fatigue. Inclusion criteria ensured the absence of comorbid diseases or active conditions. Serum vitamin D levels were categorized into three groups: deficient-insufficient (≤19 ng/mL), sufficient (20–29 ng/mL), and normal (≥30 ng/mL). Biochemical parameters, hematological markers, and derived ratios (e.g., triglyceride/glucose ratio, monocyte/HDL-C ratio) were analyzed. Spearman correlation, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Vitamin D levels showed significant positive correlations with HDL-C (ρ = 0.169, p = 0.0055) and LDL-C (ρ = 0.198, p = 0.0011), and a negative correlation with neutrophil counts (ρ = -0.133, p = 0.030). Among derived ratios, the triglyceride/monocyte ratio exhibited a significant positive correlation (ρ = 0.160, p = 0.0088), while the monocyte/HDL-C ratio showed a significant negative correlation (ρ = -0.203, p = 0.00083). Group comparisons revealed significantly lower HDL-C levels in the deficient-insufficient group compared to the sufficient and normal groups (p = 0.0022). No significant differences were found for other lipid or inflammatory markers. Conclusion: This study highlights the multifaceted roles of vitamin D in lipid metabolism and systemic inflammation. The positive association with HDL-C underscores its potential cardioprotective effects, while the negative correlation with neutrophil counts suggests its role in modulating inflammation. These findings provide valuable insights into vitamin D’s broader physiological effects in healthy individuals, warranting further large-scale studies.

Keywords

• Vitamin D
• lipid metabolism
• inflammation
• biomarkers

Sağlıklı Yetişkinlerde Vitamin D Seviyeleri ve Lipid Metabolizması ile İnflamatuvar Belirteçlerle İlişkisi

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma, serum vitamin D seviyeleri ile biyokimyasal, hematolojik ve inflamatuvar belirteçler arasındaki ilişkileri inceleyerek, lipid metabolizması ve sistemik inflamasyon üzerindeki etkilerini sağlıklı bir yetişkin popülasyonunda değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Yöntemler: Retrospektif analiz, dahiliye polikliniğine yorgunluk şikayetiyle başvuran ve yaşları 18-65 arasında olan 267 bireyin tıbbi kayıtları üzerinde yapılmıştır. Dahil edilme kriterleri, komorbid hastalıklar veya aktif durumların bulunmamasını sağlamıştır. Serum vitamin D seviyeleri üç gruba ayrılmıştır: yetersiz-düşük (≤19 ng/mL), yeterli (20-29 ng/mL) ve normal (≥30 ng/mL). Biyokimyasal parametreler, hematolojik belirteçler ve türetilmiş oranlar (ör. trigliserid/glukoz oranı, monosit/HDL-C oranı) analiz edilmiştir. İstatistiksel analiz için Spearman korelasyon, Kruskal-Wallis H testi ve Mann-Whitney U testi kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Vitamin D seviyeleri, HDL-C (ρ = 0.169, p = 0.0055) ve LDL-C (ρ = 0.198, p = 0.0011) ile anlamlı pozitif korelasyonlar ve nötrofil sayıları ile anlamlı negatif bir korelasyon (ρ = -0.133, p = 0.030) göstermiştir. Türetilmiş oranlardan trigliserid/monosit oranı anlamlı bir pozitif korelasyon (ρ = 0.160, p = 0.0088) sergilerken, monosit/HDL-C oranı anlamlı negatif bir korelasyon (ρ = -0.203, p = 0.00083) göstermiştir. Grup karşılaştırmalarında, HDL-C seviyelerinin düşük vitamin D grubunda, yeterli ve normal gruplara göre anlamlı olarak daha düşük olduğu tespit edilmiştir (p = 0.0022). Diğer lipid veya inflamatuvar belirteçlerde anlamlı farklılık bulunmamıştır. Sonuç: Bu çalışma, vitamin D’nin lipid metabolizması ve sistemik inflamasyon üzerindeki çok yönlü rollerini vurgulamaktadır. HDL-C ile olan pozitif ilişki, kardiyoprotektif etkilerini öne çıkarırken, nötrofil sayılarıyla olan negatif korelasyon, inflamasyonu modüle etmedeki rolüne işaret etmektedir. Bu bulgular, sağlıklı bireylerde vitamin D’nin daha geniş fizyolojik etkileri hakkında değerli bilgiler sunmakta ve daha büyük ölçekli çalışmaların gerekliliğini ortaya koymaktadır.

Keywords

• Vitamin D
• lipid metabolizması
• inflamasyon
• biyobelirteçler

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