C3-epi-25(OH)D3 percentage, not level, may be a potential biomarker to reflect its pathological increase in multiple diseases: a cross-sectional case–control study

Xiaohong Chen; Jie Tang; Dong Hu; Wenqiang Jiang; Jiafu Feng; Yuwei Yang

doi:10.1038/s41598-023-50524-3

Scientific Reports (Dec 2023)

C3-epi-25(OH)D3 percentage, not level, may be a potential biomarker to reflect its pathological increase in multiple diseases: a cross-sectional case–control study

Xiaohong Chen,
Jie Tang,
Dong Hu,
Wenqiang Jiang,
Jiafu Feng,
Yuwei Yang

Affiliations

Xiaohong Chen: Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Mianyang Central Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Jie Tang: Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Mianyang Central Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Dong Hu: Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Mianyang Central Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Wenqiang Jiang: Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Mianyang Central Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Jiafu Feng: Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Mianyang Central Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Yuwei Yang: Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Mianyang Central Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50524-3
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract National surveys in developed countries have examined the presence of C3-epimer of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [C3-epi-25(OH)D3]. However, controversy remains regarding its association with disease occurrence due to its high correlation with 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3]. This study aims to investigate whether %C3-epi-25(OH)D3 can serve as an indicator for this relationship with various diseases. A total of 3086 healthy participants and 4120 patients were included in this study. We investigated the association between C3-epi-25(OH)D3 and %C3-epi-25(OH)D3 levels with gender, age, and season; compared the performance of C3-epi-25(OH)D3 and %C3-epi-25(OH)D3 across different disease conditions; and explored the correlation between %C3-epi-25(OH)D3 and various diseases. Results indicated that C3-epi-25(OH)D3 varied significantly by gender, age, and season (z/χ2 = 3.765, 10.163, and 150.975, all P < 0.01), while only season for %C3-epi-25(OH)D3 (χ2 = 233.098, P < 0.001). In contrast to the significant decrease in C3-epi-25(OH)D3, %C3-epi-25(OH)D3 showed a significant increase in 8 out of 11 disease categories (z = 3.464 ~ 11.543, all Padj < 0.05). Similar opposite changes were also observed in most of the investigated 32 specific diseases. Moreover, an elevation in %C3-epi-25(OH)D3 was found to be significantly associated with 29 specific diseases both in univariate analysis (OR = 1.16 ~ 2.10, all P < 0.05) and after adjusting for gender, age, and season (OR = 1.15 ~ 1.50, all P < 0.05). However, after further adjustment for 25(OH)D3 levels, the association remained significant only for 15 specific diseases (OR = 1.11 ~ 1.50, all P < 0.05). Seasonal stratification analysis further supports the consistent association of %C3-epi-25(OH)D3 with disease across all or nearly all four seasons. In conclusion, %C3-epi-25(OH)D3 may better reflect the production of C3-epi-25(OH)D3 in disease conditions, thereby offering a more applicable approach to investigate its association with diseases. However, the interpretation of this relationship may be confounded by 25(OH)D3 as a potential covariate.

Published in Scientific Reports

ISSN: 2045-2322 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine; Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/srep/

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