Vitamin D Deficiency Tied to Metabolic Syndrome in Seniors

A new study has linked lack of vitamin D to metabolic syndrome in elderly people. "Because the metabolic syndrome increases the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, an adequate vitamin D level in the body might be important in the prevention of these diseases," said study co-author Marelise Eekhoff, of VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam.

The study included subjects who were participating in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam. It consisted sample of nearly 1,300 white men and women ages 65 and older.

Through the study, it was revealed that subjects with blood levels of vitamin D (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D) lower than 50 nanomoles per liter, which is considered as vitamin D insufficiency, were likelier to have the metabolic syndrome than those whose vitamin D levels exceeded 50.

It also concluded that the increased risk for the syndrome was due to the presence of two risk factors - low HDL, or "good" cholesterol, and a large waistline.

The result was presented at The Endocrine Society's 92nd Annual Meeting in San Diego.

Source-ANI