Improved HDL Cholesterol through Vitamin D Status Correction Substantially Lowers 10-Year Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score in Vitamin D-Deficient Arab Adults

Abstract

This interventional study aimed to determine whether correcting vitamin D status in deficient Arab adults [25(OH)D p < 0.001). After 6 months, only 21% (25 out of 120) achieved 25(OH)D levels above optimal level (≥75 nmol/L). While modest improvements were seen in glucose and lipid profiles, only HDL cholesterol showed favorable significant changes in all participants, which translated to significantly improved 10-year ASCVD risk scores independent of whether they achieved optimum vitamin D status. Still, those who achieved optimal vitamin D levels had a modestly larger decrease in ASCVD risk scores than those with less optimal 25(OH)D levels (−23% versus −18%) and this improvement was slightly more pronounced in males (−26% versus −10%, or 16% improvement) than females (−47% versus −32%, or 15% improvement). In conclusion, vitamin D status correction significantly enhances HDL cholesterol which prospectively reduces 10-year ASCVD risk as vitamin D levels approach optimum status among adult Arabs with baseline vitamin D deficiency. This improvement appears to be slightly more apparent in males than females.

Keywords

• vitamin D correction
• cardiovascular disease
• ASCVD risk score
• lipids
• sex specific
• HDL cholesterol