No effect of vitamin D administration plus dietary intervention on emerging cardiovascular risk factors in patients with metabolic syndrome

Abstract Background Patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) have low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)VitD) levels. Low 25(OH)VitD has been associated with several emerging cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, while VitD administration may ameliorate them. Aim To study the effect of 25(OH)VitD supplementation plus dietary instructions on novel CVD risk factors in MetS patients. Methods This is a pre-specified analysis of a previously published study. Patients with MetS (n = 50, 52 ± 10 years) were given dietary instructions and were randomized to receive either 25(OH)VitD, 2.000 IU/day p.o. (Suppl group) or nothing (No-Suppl group). Serum 25(OH)VitD, small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL), as well as lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A 2 (LpPLA 2 ) activity, leptin and adiponectin levels were measured at baseline and 3 months later. Results In the Suppl group 25(OH)VitD levels increased by 90% [from 16.1 (3.3–35.1) to 30.6 (8.4–67.6) ng/mL, p = 0.001] and by 33.3% [from 9.9 (4.0–39.6) to 13.2 (3.5–36.8) ng/mL, p = NS] in the No-Suppl group. sdLDL serum levels, mean LDL size, LpPLA 2 activity, leptin, adiponectin concentration and leptin to adiponectin ratio did not change significantly in both groups. Conclusion In this small study the administration of 25(OH)VitD plus dietary intervention in patients with MetS were not associated with any significant change in various emerging CVD risk factors. (NCT01237769 ClinicalTrials.gov).