Context:

Increasing evidence has suggested an association between blood vitamin D levels and metabolic syndrome.

Objective:

Our objective was to determine the relationship between blood vitamin D status and metabolic syndrome in the general adult population, using a dose-response meta-analysis.

Data Source:

We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases through July 2013 to identify relevant studies.

Study Selection:

Observational studies, reporting risk ratios with a 95% confidence interval (CI) for metabolic syndrome in ≥3 categories of blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels, were selected.

Data Extraction:

Data extraction was performed independently by 2 authors, and the quality of the studies was evaluated using the risk of bias assessment tool for nonrandomized studies.

Data Synthesis:

The pooled odds ratio of metabolic syndrome per 25 nmol/L increment in the serum/plasma 25(OH)D concentration was 0.87 (95% CI = 0.83–0.92, I2 = 85%), based on 16 “cross-sectional studies” and 1.00 (95% CI = 0.98–1.02, I2 = 0%) for 2 “cohort and nested case-control studies.” The dose-response meta-analysis showed a generally linear, inverse relationship between 25(OH)D levels and metabolic syndrome in the cross-sectional studies (P for linear trend < .001).

Conclusions:

Blood vitamin D levels were associated with a risk of metabolic syndrome in cross-sectional studies but not in longitudinal studies. Randomized, clinical trials will be necessary to address the issue of causality and to determine whether vitamin D supplementation is effective for the prevention of metabolic syndrome.

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