Vitamin D and cardiovascular risk among adults with obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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#adult #aged #blood-glucose #blood-pressure #calcium

Vitamin D and cardiovascular risk among adults with obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Manousopoulou et al., 2015 | Eur J Clin Invest | Meta Analysis

Citation

Manousopoulou Antigoni, Al-Daghri Nasser M, ... Chrousos George P. Vitamin D and cardiovascular risk among adults with obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Clin Invest. 2015-Oct;45(10):1113-26. doi:10.1111/eci.12510

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a risk factor for both vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular disease. A link between vitamin D status optimisation and improved cardiometabolic profile among adults with obesity could inform public health initiatives. METHODS: PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were searched for interventional studies examining the effects of vitamin D status improvement on cardiovascular risk factors (anthropometric measures, lipid profile, blood pressure, glucose tolerance) among nondiabetic adults with obesity. RESULTS: Seventeen publications reporting results from 11 different studies were included. Number of participants ranged from 34 to 1179 subjects. Duration was between 6 weeks and 4 years. Vitamin D was administered as a supplement in ten studies (1000 IU daily to 120 000 IU fortnightly). In one study, participants were advised to increase sunlight exposure and dietary vitamin D intake. The random and fixed-effects meta-analysis showed that vitamin D significantly increased systolic blood pressure and LDL-C levels. The fixed-effects model also indicated a significant decrease in triglyceride levels, which was not evident using the random-effects model. Caution should be given to these results given the small number of studies used and the high heterogeneity between studies for the two latter outcomes. Additionally, a subset of eligible studies with compatible data presentation was included in the meta-analysis. CONCLUSION: This systematic review highlights a paucity of interventional studies examining the effects of vitamin D status improvement on cardiovascular risk factors among otherwise healthy adults with obesity. Large-scale studies at pharmacologically relevant doses and with sufficient duration are warranted.

Key Findings

Seventeen publications reporting results from 11 different studies were included. Number of participants ranged from 34 to 1179 subjects. Duration was between 6 weeks and 4 years. Vitamin D was administered as a supplement in ten studies (1000 IU daily to 120 000 IU fortnightly). In one study, participants were advised to increase sunlight exposure and dietary vitamin D intake. The random and fixed-effects meta-analysis showed that vitamin D significantly increased systolic blood pressure and LD

Outcomes Measured

  • blood pressure
  • systolic blood pressure

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 1179
Age Range See abstract
Condition blood pressure

MeSH Terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Blood Glucose
  • Blood Pressure
  • Calcium
  • Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity
  • Prospective Studies
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Risk Factors
  • Sunlight
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin D Deficiency
  • Vitamins

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: vitamin-d

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09