Association of Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in Carotid Intima-media Thickness: A Study from South India

BACKGROUND: Abnormal carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is a marker of carotid atherosclerosis which is a risk factor for cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies have found an association of 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency with abnormal carotid IMT. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels with carotid IMT in Indian participants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively recruited 300 participants at Yashoda Hospital, Hyderabad, during the study period between January 2012 and December 2014. All participants were assessed for fasting blood sugar, lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP), serum alkaline phosphatase, serum calcium, serum phosphorous, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, and carotid Doppler examination. RESULTS: Among the 300 participants, men were 190 (63.3%) and mean age was 51.9 ± 7.7 years with a range from 35 to 64 years. On risk factors evaluation, 105 (35%) were hypertensive, 79 (26.3%) diabetics, 63 (21%) smokers, and 56 (18.6%) were alcoholics. On evaluation of biochemical parameters, 81 (27%) had dyslipidemia, 120 (40%) had elevated CRP levels, 119 (39.6%) had 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency, mean alkaline phosphatase was 93.9 ± 14.9 IU/L, serum calcium (mg/dL) was 9.2 ± 2.3, and serum phosphorous 4.4 ± 1.2 mg/dL. On carotid imaging, 121 (40.3%) had abnormal IMT. After multivariate analysis, 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency (odds ratio [OR]: 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29–3.55), dyslipidemia (OR: 2.53; 95% CI: 1.46–4.40), elevated CRP (OR: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.37–3.76), smoking (OR: 2.09; 95% CI: 1.16–3.77), and diabetes (OR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.05–3.21) were independently associated with abnormal IMT. CONCLUSION: In our study, we established 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency as an independently associated with abnormal IMT in Indian participants.