The impact of visceral fat and levels of vitamin D on coronary artery calcification

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluated calcification of the coronary arteries and its association with visceral fat and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) serum levels. METHODS: A cross sectional study involving 140 individuals without any previous diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. A biochemical analysis of vitamin D serum levels was carried out, as well as computed tomography to measure coronary artery calcium score and visceral adipose tissue. RESULTS: The mean age of the individuals was 55.9 (±12.4). Coronary artery calcium was observed in 40.7% of the population. Vitamin D presented median serum levels of 30.4 ng/ml (IQ24.5-39.1), with 14,1 and 33.7% of the individuals presenting deficiency and insufficiency, respectively. In the univariate analysis, the calcium score was more prevalent in aged patients (p<0.01), in hypertensive individuals (p<0.01), in diabetics (p=0.02), and in those with a higher concentration of VAT (p=0.02). In the adjusted analysis, it was found that the highest concentration of VAT (OR: 4.0; 95%CI 1.4-11.7), hypertension (OR: 4.8; 95%CI 1.5-15.3), and age (OR: 10.4; 95%CI 3.9-27.6) were predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis, regardless of body mass index, diabetes, and 25OHD. CONCLUSIONS: Excess visceral fat was associated with subclinical atherosclerosis, regardless of other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Serum levels of 25OHD were not associated with CAD in its early stages.