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Minerals, trace elements, Vit. D and bone health

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and markers of insulin resistance in a Japanese working population

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 66, pages 1323–1328 (2012)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

The association between vitamin D status and insulin resistance (IR) has been less studied among Asians, and it remains elusive whether calcium could modify such an association. We examined the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations with IR markers and the potential effect modification by calcium intake among a Japanese population.

Subjects/Methods:

The authors analyzed data (n=494) from a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2009 among a Japanese working population aged 20–68 years. Fasting serum 25(OH)D and insulin, as well as fasting plasma glucose were determined, and homeostatic model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) was calculated. Calcium intake was assessed using a validated diet history questionnaire. Multiple linear regression was done with adjustment of potential confounding variables.

Results:

Fasting insulin and HOMA-IR were significantly inversely associated with 25(OH)D concentration across quartiles of 25(OH)D after fully adjusting for covariates (Ptrend=0.04 and 0.02, respectively). Across clinically relevant categories of 25(OH)D, compared with participants in the vitamin D sufficiency group, those in the vitamin D insufficiency group had a 5% higher HOMA-IR score, and those in the hypovitaminosis D group had an 18% higher HOMA-IR score (Ptrend=0.01). In an analysis by calcium intake, the HOMA-IR score was highest among participants with both a low calcium intake and lowest 25(OH)D concentrations, with significant inverse trend being observed in the group with lower calcium intake (Ptrend=0.02).

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that low vitamin D status is associated with IR among Japanese adults.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the study participants for their cooperation and participation. We also thank Seiko Miyazaki and Yasutaka Horiuchi (Kyushu University); Emi Tanaka, Youko Tsuruda, Misaki Hirose, Meishu Sai, Miho Isayama, Midori Sasaki, Mie Shimomura, and Azumi Uehara (Fukuka Womens University); Yaeko Nagano (retired nurse); and Yumi Matsushita, Akiko Hayashi, Yu Teruyama, Kae Saito, Kayoko Washizuka and Yuho Mizoue (National Center for Global Health and Medicine) for their help in data collection. This study was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B; 21390213) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (to Dr Mizoue), a Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B; 21790598) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and a Grant of National Center for Global Health and Medicine (to Dr Nanri).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Clinical Research Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    N M Pham, S Akter, K Kurotani, A Nanri & T Mizoue

  2. Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

    M Sato

  3. Faculty of Human Environmental Science, Fukuoka Women’s University, Fukuoka, Japan

    H Hayabuchi

  4. Department of Metabolic Disorder, Diabetes Research Center, Research Institute, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    K Yasuda

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  1. N M Pham
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Correspondence to N M Pham.

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Pham, N., Akter, S., Kurotani, K. et al. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and markers of insulin resistance in a Japanese working population. Eur J Clin Nutr 66, 1323–1328 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2012.169

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