Vitamin D: a possible modifying factor linking obesity to vascular calcification in hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a risk factor for increased cardiovascular disease. Whether vitamin D deficiency modifies this association is unclear. Here, we examined the association of obesity and vitamin D deficiency with vascular calcification score (VCS) in incident end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 213 ESRD patients. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels below 10 ng/mL, and obesity was defined as a percentage of body fat (PBF) higher than the sex-specific median value in the cohort (>26.8% for men, >36.2% for women). VCS was measured by plain radiographic film of the lateral abdomen in the standing position. RESULTS: Most ESRD patients (76.6%) had 25(OH)D deficiency at the start of dialysis. The prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency was much higher in obese patients than non-obese patients, and it had significant inverse association with PBF (r = −0.315, p < 0.001). Abdominal aortic calcification was identified in 104 (48.9%) patients. VCS was significantly higher in obese population; 2.6 (0–23) for all patients, 4.2 (0–23) for obese and 1.0 (0–12) for non-obese patients (p < 0.001). Interestingly, vitamin D deficiency was associated with greater risk of a high VCS, especially in obese population [odds ratio (OR) 3.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-9.38)], but not with non-obese patients (OR 1.82, 95% CI 0.56-5.60). CONCLUSION: The magnitude and direction of the association between obesity and the risk of vascular calcification may depend on an individual’s 25(OH)D level, a possible representative marker of cardiometabolic disturbance in ESRD patients. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12986-017-0181-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.