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Behnaz Abiri Obesity Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

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Majid Valizadeh Obesity Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

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Amirhossein Ramezani Ahmadi Isfahan Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

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Shirin Amini Department of Nutrition, Shoushtar Faculty of Medical Sciences, Shoushtar, Iran

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Mohammad Nikoohemmat Obesity Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

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Faeze Abbaspour Obesity Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

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Farhad Hosseinpanah Obesity Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

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Objectives

It has not been established whether vitamin D deficiency is associated with anthropometric state; therefore, this systematic review examined the relationship between serum vitamin D levels with anthropometrics and adiposity across different ages.

Methods

Studies that examined vitamin D deficiency with adiposity measures in different age groups were searched in the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar databases until November 2023. Two investigators independently reviewed titles and abstracts, examined full-text articles, extracted data, and rated the quality in accordance with the Newcastle–Ottawa criteria.

Results

Seventy-two studies, with a total of 59,430 subjects, were included. Of these studies, 27 cross-sectional studies and one longitudinal study (with 25,615 participants) evaluated the possible link between 25(OH)D serum concentrations and anthropometric/adiposity indices in the pediatric population. Forty-two cross-sectional studies and two cohort investigations (with 33,815 participants) investigated the relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels and adiposity measures in adults and/or the elderly population. There is evidence supporting links between vitamin D deficiency and obesity, and revealed an inverse association between vitamin D and adiposity indicators, specifically in female subjects. However, the effects of several confounding factors should also be considered.

Conclusion

Most published studies, most of which were cross-sectional, reported a negative association between vitamin D and female adiposity indicators. Therefore, serum vitamin D levels should be monitored in overweight/obese individuals.

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Mengting Yin Sichuan University West China Hospital, Chengdu, China

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Qianhui Liu Sichuan University West China Hospital, Chengdu, China

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Qingzhong Wang Jintang First People’s Hospital, West China Hospital Sichuan University Jingtang Hospital, Chengdu, China

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Yong He Sichuan University West China Hospital, Chengdu, China

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Haolan Song Sichuan University West China Hospital, Chengdu, China

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Xin Nie Sichuan University West China Hospital, Chengdu, China

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Guixing Li Sichuan University West China Hospital, Chengdu, China

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Background

The diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) remains a challenge because of increased asymptomatic PHPT or patients with normocalcaemic PHPT (NPHPT). In addition, some primary hospitals in China have no equipment to measure parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. Therefore, an additional, simple, and inexpensive laboratory biochemical marker is urgently needed. The calcium/phosphate (Ca/P) ratio and chloride/phosphate (Cl/P) ratio have been proposed as suitable tools to diagnose PHPT in Europe; however, the Ca/P ratio has never been tested in China. We aimed to conduct a confirmatory study to explore the diagnostic performance of the Ca/P ratio for PHPT in China.

Methods

From January 2015 to December 2020, a total of 155 patients who underwent parathyroidectomy (143 PHPT patients and 12 NPHPT patients) and 153 controls were enrolled in this single-center , retrospective study. Serum calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone, 25-hydroxyvitamin vitamin D (25(OH) vitamin D), chloride, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and creatinine levels were recorded for all the study participants. Pairwise comparisons were made between groups, and the diagnostic performance of the Ca/P ratio was determined using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

Results

Patients with PHPT had a higher Ca/P ratio than controls (P < 0.001). A Ca/P ratio above 2.94 with a sensitivity of 95.5% and specificity of 98.7% can distinguish PHPT patients from healthy individuals. This index was positively correlated with the PTH level (r = 0.875, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The Ca/P ratio is an ideal and inexpensive indicator for diagnosing PHPT in China when using a cut-off value of 2.94.

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Mohammed S Razzaque Department of Pathology, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA

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Fibroblast growth factor‐23 (FGF23) controls the homeostasis of both phosphate and vitamin D. Bone-derived FGF23 can suppress the transcription of 1α‐hydroxylase (1α(OH)ase) to reduce renal activation of vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D3). FGF23 can also activate the transcription of 24‐hydroxylase to enhance the renal degradation process of vitamin D. There is a counter-regulation for FGF23 and vitamin D; 1,25(OH)2D3 induces the skeletal synthesis and the release of FGF23, while FGF23 can suppress the production of 1,25(OH)2D3 by inhibiting 1α(OH)ase synthesis. Genetically ablating FGF23 activities in mice resulted in higher levels of renal 1α(OH)ase, which is also reflected in an increased level of serum 1,25(OH)2D3, while genetically ablating 1α(OH)ase activities in mice reduced the serum levels of FGF23. Similar feedback control of FGF23 and vitamin D is also detected in various human diseases. Further studies are required to understand the subcellular molecular regulation of FGF23 and vitamin D in health and disease.

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Elisabet Einarsdottir Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Molecular Neurology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden

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Minna Pekkinen Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

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Kaarel Krjutškov Molecular Neurology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia

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Shintaro Katayama Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden

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Juha Kere Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Molecular Neurology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
School of Basic and Medical Biosciences, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom

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Outi Mäkitie Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

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Heli Viljakainen Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Department of Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

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Objective

The effect of vitamin D at the transcriptome level is poorly understood, and furthermore, it is unclear if it differs between obese and normal-weight subjects. The objective of the study was to explore the transcriptome effects of vitamin D supplementation.

Design and methods

We analysed peripheral blood gene expression using GlobinLock oligonucleotides followed by RNA sequencing in individuals participating in a 12-week randomised double-blinded placebo-controlled vitamin D intervention study. The study involved 18 obese and 18 normal-weight subjects (of which 20 males) with mean (±s.d.) age 20.4 (±2.5) years and BMIs 36 (±10) and 23 (±4) kg/m2, respectively. The supplemental daily vitamin D dose was 50 µg (2000 IU). Data were available at baseline, 6- and 12-week time points and comparisons were performed between the vitamin D and placebo groups separately in obese and normal-weight subjects.

Results

Significant transcriptomic changes were observed at 6 weeks, and only in the obese subjects: 1724 genes were significantly upregulated and 186 genes were downregulated in the vitamin D group compared with placebo. Further analyses showed several enriched gene categories connected to mitochondrial function and metabolism, and the most significantly enriched pathway was related to oxidative phosphorylation (adjusted P value 3.08 × 10−14). Taken together, our data suggest an effect of vitamin D supplementation on mitochondrial function in obese subjects.

Conclusions

Vitamin D supplementation affects gene expression in obese, but not in normal-weight subjects. The altered genes are enriched in pathways related to mitochondrial function. The present study increases the understanding of the effects of vitamin D at the transcriptome level.

Open access
Nancy Martini Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Osteopatías y Metabolismo Mineral (LIOMM-UNLP-CICPBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina

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Lucas Streckwall Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Osteopatías y Metabolismo Mineral (LIOMM-UNLP-CICPBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina

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Antonio Desmond McCarthy Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Osteopatías y Metabolismo Mineral (LIOMM-UNLP-CICPBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina

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In post-menopausal women, aged individuals, and patients with diabetes mellitus or chronic renal disease, bone mineral density (BMD) decreases while the vasculature accumulates arterial calcifications (ACs). AC can be found in the tunica intima and/or in the tunica media. Prospective studies have shown that patients with initially low BMD and/or the presence of fragility fractures have at follow-up a significantly increased risk for coronary and cerebrovascular events and for overall cardiovascular mortality. Similarly, patients presenting with abdominal aorta calcifications (an easily quantifiable marker of vascular pathology) show a significant decrease in the BMD (and an increase in the fragility) of bones irrigated by branches of the abdominal aorta, such as the hip and lumbar spine. AC induction is an ectopic tissue biomineralization process promoted by osteogenic transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells as well as by local and systemic secreted factors. In many cases, the same regulatory molecules modulate bone metabolism but in reverse. Investigation of animal and in vitro models has identified several potential mechanisms for this reciprocal bone–vascular regulation, such as vitamin K and D sufficiency, advanced glycation end-products–RAGE interaction, osteoprotegerin/RANKL/RANK, Fetuin A, oestrogen deficiency and phytooestrogen supplementation, microbiota and its relation to diet, among others. Complete elucidation of these potential mechanisms, as well as their clinical validation via controlled studies, will provide a basis for pharmacological intervention that could simultaneously promote bone and vascular health.

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Shu-Meng Hu Department of Nephrology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

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Yang-Juan Bai Department of Laboratory Medicine/Research Centre of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

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Ya-Mei Li Department of Laboratory Medicine/Research Centre of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

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Ye Tao Department of Nephrology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

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Xian-Ding Wang Department of Urology/Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

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Tao Lin Department of Urology/Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

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Lan-Lan Wang Department of Laboratory Medicine/Research Centre of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

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Yun-Ying Shi Department of Nephrology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

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Introduction

Tertiary hyperparathyroidism (THPT) and vitamin D deficiency are commonly seen in kidney transplant recipients, which may result in persistently elevated fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) level after transplantation and decreased graft survival. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on THPT, FGF23-alpha Klotho (KLA) axis and cardiovascular complications after transplantation.

Materials and methods

Two hundred nine kidney transplant recipients were included and further divided into treated and untreated groups depending on whether they received vitamin D supplementation. We tracked the state of THPT, bone metabolism and FGF23–KLA axis within 12 months posttransplant and explored the predictors and risk factors for intact FGF23 levels, KLA levels, THPT and cardiovascular complications in recipients.

Results

Vitamin D supplementation significantly improved FGF23 resistance, THPT and high bone turnover status, preserved better graft function and prevented coronary calcification in the treated group compared to the untreated group at month 12. The absence of vitamin D supplementation was an independent risk factor for THPT and a predictor for intact FGF23 and KLA levels at month 12. Age and vitamin D deficiency were independent risk factors for coronary calcification in recipients at month 12.

Conclusion

Vitamin D supplementation effectively improved THPT, FGF23 resistance and bone metabolism, preserved graft function and prevented coronary calcification after transplantation.

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Kevin D Cashman Cork Centre for Vitamin D and Nutrition Research, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

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Background

Internationally, concern has been repeatedly raised about the little notable progress in the collection, analysis and use of population micronutrient status and deficiency data globally. The need for representative status and intake data for vitamin D has been highlighted as a research priority for well over a decade.

Aim and methods

A narrative review which aims to provide a summary and assessment of vitamin D nutritional status data globally. This review divides the world into the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) major regions: the Americas, Europe, Oceania, Africa and Asia. Emphasis was placed on published data on the prevalence of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) < 25/30 and <50 nmol/L (reflecting vitamin D deficiency and inadequacy, respectively) as well as vitamin D intake, where possible from nationally representative surveys.

Results

Collating data from the limited number of available representative surveys from individual countries might suggest a relatively low overall prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in South America, Oceania and North America, whereas there is more moderate prevalence in Europe and Asia, and possibly Africa. Overall, the prevalence of serum 25(OH)D < 25/30 and <50 nmol/L ranges from ~5 to 18% and 24 to 49%, respectively, depending on FAO world region. Usual intakes of vitamin D can also vary by FAO world region, but in general, with a few exceptions, there are very high levels of inadequacy of vitamin D intake.

Conclusions

While the burden of vitamin D deficiency and inadequacy varies by world regions and not just by UVB availability, the global burden overall translates into enormous numbers of individuals at risk.

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Shatha Alharazy Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

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M Denise Robertson Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK

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Susan Lanham-New Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK

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Muhammad Imran Naseer Centre of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

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Adeel G Chaudhary Centre of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Centre for Innovation in Personalized Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

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Eman Alissa Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

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Background

Measurement of free 25-hydroyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status has been suggested as a more representative marker of vitamin D status than that of total 25(OH)D. Previously, free 25(OH)D could only be calculated indirectly; however, a newly developed direct assay for the measurement of free 25(OH)D is now available. The aim of this study therefore was to investigate directly measured total and free vitamin D levels association with metabolic health in postmenopausal healthy women living in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

A sample of 302 postmenopausal women aged ≥50 years (n  = 302) living in Saudi Arabia were recruited in a cross-sectional study design. Blood samples were collected from subjects for measurement of serum levels of total 25(OH)D, directly measured free 25(OH)D, metabolic bone parameters, lipid profile, and other biochemical tests.

Results

A positive correlation was found between directly measured free and total 25(OH)D (r = 0.64, P< 0.0001). Total but not free 25(OH)D showed significant association with serum intact parathyroid hormone (P = 0.004), whilst free 25(OH)D but not total 25(OH)D showed a significant association with total cholesterol and LDL-C (P = 0.032 and P = 0.045, respectively).

Conclusions

Free 25(OH)D and total 25(OH)D were found to be consistently correlated but with different associations to metabolic health parameters. Further research is needed to determine which marker of vitamin D status would be the most appropriate in population studies.

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Amarjit Saini Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Unit of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

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Linda Björkhem-Bergman Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Departments of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Neurobiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

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Johan Boström Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Unit of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

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Mats Lilja Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Unit of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

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Michael Melin Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Unit of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Unit of Cardiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

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Karl Olsson Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Unit of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

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Lena Ekström Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

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Peter Bergman Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

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Mikael Altun Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Unit of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

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Eric Rullman Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Unit of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Unit of Cardiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

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Thomas Gustafsson Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Unit of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

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The CC genotype of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphism TaqI rs731236 has previously been associated with a higher risk of developing myopathy compared to TT carriers. However, the mechanistic role of this polymorphism in skeletal muscle is not well defined. The effects of vitamin D on patients genotyped for the VDR polymorphism TaqI rs731236, comparing CC and TT carriers were evaluated. Primary human myoblasts isolated from 4 CC carriers were compared with myoblasts isolated from four TT carriers and treated with vitamin D in vitro. A dose-dependent inhibitory effect on myoblast proliferation and differentiation was observed concurrent with modifications of key myogenic regulatory factors. RNA sequencing revealed a vitamin D dose–response gene signature enriched with a higher number of VDR-responsive elements (VDREs) per gene. Interestingly, the greater the expression of muscle differentiation markers in myoblasts, the more pronounced was the vitamin D-mediated response to suppress genes associated with myogenic fusion and myotube formation. This novel finding provides a mechanistic explanation to the inconsistency regarding previous reports of the role of vitamin D in myoblast differentiation. No effects in myoblast proliferation, differentiation or gene expression were related to CC vs TT carriers. Our findings suggest that the VDR polymorphism TaqI rs731236 comparing CC vs TT carriers did not influence the effects of vitamin D on primary human myoblasts and that vitamin D inhibits myoblast proliferation and differentiation through key regulators of cell cycle progression. Future studies need to employ strategies to identify the primary responses of vitamin D that drive the cellular response towards quiescence.

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Jennifer K Y Ko Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China

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Jinghua Shi Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China

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Raymond H W Li Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China

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William S B Yeung Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China

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Ernest H Y Ng Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China

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Objective

Vitamin D receptors are present in the female reproductive tract. Studies on the association between serum vitamin D level and pregnancy rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF) showed inconsistent results and focused on a single fresh or frozen embryo transfer cycle. The objective of our study was to evaluate if serum vitamin D level before ovarian stimulation was associated with the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) of the first IVF cycle.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

Women who underwent the first IVF cycle from 2012 to 2016 at a university-affiliated reproductive medicine center were included. Archived serum samples taken before ovarian stimulation were analyzed for 25(OH)D levels using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Results

In total, 1113 had pregnancy outcome from the completed IVF cycle. The median age (25th–75th percentile) of the women was 36 (34–38) years and serum 25(OH)D level was 53.4 (41.9–66.6) nmol/L. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (less than 50 nmol/L) was 42.2%. The CLBR in the vitamin D-deficient group was significantly lower compared to the non-deficient group (43.9%, 208/474 vs 50.9%, 325/639, P  = 0.021, unadjusted), and after controlling for women’s age, BMI, antral follicle count, type and duration of infertility. There were no differences in the clinical/ongoing pregnancy rate, live birth rate and miscarriage rate in the fresh cycle between the vitamin D deficient and non-deficient groups.

Conclusions

Vitamin D deficiency was prevalent in infertile women in subtropical Hong Kong. The CLBR of the first IVF cycle in the vitamin D-deficient group was significantly lower compared to the non-deficient group.

Open access