The association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations with elevated serum ferritin levels in normal weight, overweight and obese Canadians.

In light of the growing body of literature suggesting a beneficial effect of vitamin D on inflammatory response, we hypothesized that vitamin D affects serum ferritin (SF), a biomarker of inflammation. The objective of the present study is to examine the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] with elevated SF concentrations indicative of inflammation as no earlier study has done so. Data from 5550 Canadian adults who participated in the 2012/2013 and the 2014/2015 Canadian Health Measures Surveys were analysed. We observed that 9.4% of Canadian adults have elevated SF concentrations and that 35.6% were vitamin D insufficient. Among Canadians with under/normal body weights, those with serum 25(OH)D ≥ 75 nmol/L relative to those with serum 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L, were substantially less at risk for elevated SF concentrations (OR = 0.24; 95% CI = 0.06, 0.89; p = 0.034). We did not observe this association for overweight and obese Canadians. Canadians of older age, non-white ethnicity, males, those with income above $100,000, those who consumed alcohol, and those with high total cholesterol concentrations and elevated blood pressures were more likely to have elevated SF concentrations. Serum 25(OH)D ≥ 75 nmol/L is likely to provoke anti-inflammatory benefits, but intervention studies that achieve high 25(OH)D concentrations and with long follow up are needed to establish the role of vitamin D on SF

The Effect of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D on Serum Ferritin Concentrations: A Longitudinal Study of Participants of a Preventive Health Program

Various studies have suggested a role of vitamin D in inflammation. However, its effect on ferritin, a biomarker of inflammation, has received relatively little attention. Therefore, we aimed to assess the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) with serum ferritin (SF) concentrations, and to examine whether temporal increases in serum 25(OH)D concentrations are paralleled by a reduction in SF concentrations. Data from a community sample of Canadian adults who participated in a preventive health program (n = 6812) were analyzed. During the follow-up, serum 25(OH)D concentrations increased from 80.7 to 115.0 nmol/L whereas SF concentrations decreased from 122.0 to 92.0 &#181;g/L (median follow-up time was 11.67 months). Cross-sectional analyses revealed that compared to participants with 25(OH)D concentrations of &lt;50 nmol/L, those with 25(OH)D concentrations of 75 to &lt;100, 100 to &lt;125, and &#8805;125 nmol/L had SF concentrations that were 13.00, 23.15, and 27.59 &#181;g/L lower respectively (p &lt; 0.001). Compared to those without temporal improvements in 25(OH)D concentrations between baseline and follow-up, participants who improved their 25(OH)D concentrations with &#8805;50 nmol/L decreased their SF concentrations with 5.71 &#181;g/L. For participants for whom the increase in 25(OH)D concentrations was less than 50 nmol/L, decreases in SF concentrations were less pronounced and not statistically significant. These observations suggest that despite strong associations between 25(OH)D and SF concentrations, interventions aiming to lower SF concentrations through sun-exposure and vitamin D supplementation should target substantial increases in 25(OH)D concentrations

Influence of altered maternal lipid profile on the lipid profile of the newborn

Objective To evaluate whether there is an association between altered maternal lipid profile and the lipid profile of the newborn in a maternity hospital. Subjects and method Cross-sectional study with 435 parturients and their respective newborns. Blood samples from the newborns were collected during delivery by venipuncture of the umbilical cord close to the placenta. Blood samples from the parturients were collected in the pre-delivery room or right after delivery. The concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL-c were determined by an enzymatic colorimetric method and LDL-c was calculated by the Friedewald formula. Results There was no significant difference in mean concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c and triglycerides in neonates according to altered or non-altered maternal total cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c and triglycerides. Conclusions Change in maternal lipid profile is not significantly associated with the mean concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c and triglycerides in newborns

The Association of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations and Elevated Glycated Hemoglobin Values: A Longitudinal Study of Non-Diabetic Participants of a Preventive Health Program

The prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is sharply on the rise, both in Canada and worldwide. As addressing its root causes, i.e., promotion of healthy lifestyles and weight management, has been largely unsuccessful, new clues for primary prevention seem essential to curbing the increasing public health burden of T2D. In the present study, we examined whether improvements in vitamin D status, i.e., serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations, are paralleled by a reduction in the risk for reaching adverse glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in a community sample of non-diabetic volunteers participating in a preventive health program that encourages the use of vitamin D. Repeated observations on 6565 participants revealed that serum 25(OH)D concentrations increased from 90.8 to 121.3 nmol/L, HbA1c values decreased from 5.6% to 5.5%, and the prevalence of having HbA1c values ≥ 5.8% decreased from 29.5% to 17.4% while in the program. Compared to participants who did not increase their 25(OH)D concentrations during follow-up, those who increased their 25(OH)D concentrations with 50 nmol/L or more were 0.74 times as likely to achieve elevated HbA1c values at follow-up (p = 0.03). These findings suggest that public health initiatives that promote vitamin D status along with healthy lifestyles in the population at large may alleviate the future public health burden associated with T2D

Influence of altered maternal lipid profile on the lipid profile of the newborn

Objective To evaluate whether there is an association between altered maternal lipid profile and the lipid profile of the newborn in a maternity hospital. Subjects and method Cross-sectional study with 435 parturients and their respective newborns. Blood samples from the newborns were collected during delivery by venipuncture of the umbilical cord close to the placenta. Blood samples from the parturients were collected in the pre-delivery room or right after delivery. The concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL-c were determined by an enzymatic colorimetric method and LDL-c was calculated by the Friedewald formula. Results There was no significant difference in mean concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c and triglycerides in neonates according to altered or non-altered maternal total cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c and triglycerides. Conclusions Change in maternal lipid profile is not significantly associated with the mean concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c and triglycerides in newborns

The accuracy of neck circumference for assessing overweight and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis

<p><b>Context:</b> Neck circumference (NC) has been suggested as an alternative measure to screen for excess body weight.</p> <p><b>Objective:</b> The aim of this study was to demonstrate the accuracy of neck circumference (NC) as a measure for assessing overweight and obesity in both sexes in different age groups.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> Detailed individual search strategies were developed for each of the following bibliographic databases: Cochrane, LILACS, PubMed/MEDLINE, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Science. The QUADAS-2 checklist was used to assess the methodology of the studies included.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> Thirty-eight assessments were performed in 11 articles according to age, sex and weight status. Using sensitivity and specificity, 27 assessments (71.0%) considered NC an accurate measure to diagnose overweight and obesity. The best sensitivity and specificity were found for the age >19 years (82.0%, 82.0%), female (80.0%, 73.0%), and obese (80.0%, 85.0%) categories.</p> <p><b>Conclusion:</b> NC is an accurate tool for assessing overweight and obesity in males and females of different age groups and could be used to screen for excess body weight in routine medical practice or epidemiological studies. It is also believed that more studies will permit the creation of a reference dataset of NC cut-off values for world populations.</p

The Effect of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D on Elevated Homocysteine Concentrations in Participants of a Preventive Health Program

<div><p>Both lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and elevated homocysteine concentrations are potential risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). A recent analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey reported an inverse association of serum 25(OH)D with homocysteine, however, the longitudinal relationship has yet to be investigated. We hypothesized and examined whether a temporal increase in 25(OH)D concentrations is paralleled by a reduction in the risk for elevated homocysteine. We analyzed data of 4475 participants with repeated assessments of serum 25(OH)D and homocysteine concentrations who enrolled in a preventive health program that encourages vitamin D supplementation and monitors serum 25(OH)D and homocysteine concentrations. We defined elevated homocysteine as concentrations greater than 13 micromoles per liter. Logistic regression was applied to assess the association of temporal changes in serum 25(OH)D with the risk of elevated homocysteine. We observed an inverse gradient whereby greater increases in 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with a lower prevalence of elevated homocysteine. Relative to those without temporal increases in 25(OH)D, participants who showed improvements in their serum 25(OH)D concentrations of “<25”, “25–50”, “50–75”, and “≥75” nanomoles per liter at follow up were 0.92 (95% confidence interval: 0.62–1.37), 0.52 (0.33–0.80), 0.34 (0.20–0.58), and 0.32 (0.19–0.54) times as likely to have elevated homocysteine, respectively. These observations suggest that temporal improvements in vitamin D status reduce serum homocysteine concentrations, and therefore may potentially contribute to the primary prevention of CVD.</p></div

Associations of change in serum homocysteine and coinciding change in serum 25(OH)D concentrations.

<p>Associations of change in serum homocysteine and coinciding change in serum 25(OH)D concentrations.</p

Associations of changes in serum 25(OH)D concentrations with coinciding changes in homocysteine.

<p>μmol/L denotes micromoles per liter; and nmol/L denotes nanomoles per liter.</p

Baseline and follow up characteristics of 4475 study participants.

<p>Baseline and follow up characteristics of 4475 study participants.</p