Frontiers in Endocrinology (Oct 2022)

Associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, body mass index and body fat composition among Emirati population: Results from the UAE healthy future study

  • Fatme AlAnouti,
  • Amar Sabri Ahmad,
  • Laila Abdel Wareth,
  • Ayesha Al Dhaheri,
  • Abderrahim Oulhaj,
  • Abdulla Al Junaibi,
  • Abdullah Al Naeemi,
  • Aisha Al Hamiz,
  • Ayesha Al Hosani,
  • Eiman Al Zaabi,
  • Fatima Mezhal,
  • Fatma Al Maskari,
  • Fatma Al Maskari,
  • Habiba Alsafar,
  • Habiba Alsafar,
  • Habiba Alsafar,
  • Jamila Yaaqoub,
  • Marina Al Bastaki,
  • Mohammed Al Houqani,
  • Naima Oumeziane,
  • Nirmin F. Juber,
  • Scott Sherman,
  • Syed M. Shah,
  • Teeb Alsharid,
  • Thekra Al Zaabi,
  • Tom Loney,
  • Wael Al Mahmeed,
  • Abdishakur Abdulle,
  • Raghib Ali,
  • Raghib Ali

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2022.954300
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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IntroductionVitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are highly prevalent among several populations across the globe. Numerous studies have shown a significant correlation between body-mass-index (BMI) and Vitamin D status, however, some results differed according to ethnicity. Despite the abundance of sunshine throughout the year, vitamin D deficiency is prominent in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In this study, we analyzed the UAE Healthy Future Study (UAEHFS) pilot data to investigate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and % body fat (BF) composition as well as BMI.Material and methodsData from a total of 399 Emirati men and women aged ≥ 18 years were analyzed. Serum 25(OH)D and standard measures of weight and height were included in the analyses. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum 25(OH)D concentration<20 ng/ml. Multivariate quantile regression models were performed to explore the relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels and % BF composition and BMI correspondingly.ResultsThere were 281 (70.4%) males and 118 (29.6%) females included in this study. More than half of the study participants had vitamin D insufficiency (52.4%), and nearly a third had vitamin D deficiency (30.3%); while only 17.3% had optimal levels. A statistically significant negative association between serum 25(OH) D levels and % BF composition was observed at intermediate percentiles while a statistically significant negative association between serum 25(OH)D and BMI was only observed at the median (50th percentile).ConclusionThe study findings support the association between low serum 25(OH) D levels (low vitamin D status) and high % BF composition and high BMI among adult Emiratis. Further longitudinal data from the prospective UAEHFS could better elucidate the relationship between serum 25(OH) D levels, % BF composition, and BMI in the context of various health outcomes among this population.

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