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Associations of vitamin D with novel and traditional anthropometric indices according to age and sex: a cross-sectional study in central southern China

Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity volume 25, pages 1651–1661 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

Vitamin D insufficiency and obesity are recognized as worldwide concerns and have been linked with each other. New anthropometric indices reflect visceral obesity better than traditional anthropometric indices. Our aim was to identify the specific correlations of novel and traditional anthropometric indices with 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations by sex and age.

Methods

Cross-sectional data on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, clinical characteristics and biochemical measurements were collected for 12,617 Chinese adults. Four traditional anthropometric indices, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and two novel anthropometric indices, body roundness index (BRI) and body shape index (ABSI), were calculated.

Results

In both sexes, the mean values of BMI, WC, WHtR and BRI tended to increase with 25(OH)D insufficiency, regardless of adjustment (all P < 0.05). Males with insufficient 25(OH)D had increased odds of obesity (assessed by BMI, WC, WHtR, BRI and ABSI) compared to the odds of males with sufficient 25(OH)D. Females with insufficient 25(OH)D had a higher chance of general obesity (assessed by BMI). Low 25(OH)D status was associated with indicators of obesity only in participants aged 45–64 years in both sexes.

Conclusion

A inverse association between obesity and lower vitamin D levels was found. Moreover, in addition to BMI, novel indicators of visceral adiposity, such as BRI and ABSI, were associated with lower 25(OH)D serum concentrations in males. The effects of optimizing vitamin D levels in obese Chinese adults need further examination, particularly in middle-aged males.

Level of evidence

Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.

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Acknowledgements

The authors appreciate the valuable assistance of all subjects. We would also like to thank Chang Liu for his help with data programming.

Funding

This study was supported by the New Xiangya Talent Project of the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University (JY201515) and the Research on Educational and Teaching Reform of Central South University (2019jy185).

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Author notes

  1. Xiao-Ling Zhu and Zhi-Heng Chen contributed equally to this work.

Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Management, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Tongzipo Road 138, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China

    Xiao-Ling Zhu, Zhi-Heng Chen, Ying Li, Ping-Ting Yang, Lei Liu & Ya-Qin Wang

  2. Center for Health Management Research, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China

    Zhi-Heng Chen, Ying Li, Ping-Ting Yang, Lei Liu, Liu-Xin Wu & Ya-Qin Wang

  3. Zhongguancun Xinzhiyuan Health Management Institute, Beijing, China

    Liu-Xin Wu

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  1. Xiao-Ling Zhu
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Correspondence to Ya-Qin Wang.

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Zhu, XL., Chen, ZH., Li, Y. et al. Associations of vitamin D with novel and traditional anthropometric indices according to age and sex: a cross-sectional study in central southern China. Eat Weight Disord 25, 1651–1661 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-019-00803-8

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Keywords

  • Serum 25(OH)D
  • Obesity
  • Anthropometric indices
  • Sex
  • Age