Association between adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and circulating Vitamin D levels

Abstract

Vitamin D improves bone density and latest studies show adherence to Med-Diet as protective on osteoporosis. This observational study aimed at investigating the relationship between 25(OH)D levels and adherence to Med-Diet. Body weight, BMI, WC, glucose, insulin, 25(OH)D, total cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, and creatinine serum levels and insulin resistance were determined in 284 overweight/obese subjects not taking medications or supplements. Adherence to Med-Diet was evaluated by using PREDIMED score. High-level of adherence stood out. 25(OH)D was inversely related to BMI, WC, HOMA-IR, serum insulin and triglycerides, while directly to PREDIMED score. Two different regression models confirmed this positive correlation independently of gender and other parameters showing univariate relationship with 25(OH)D. This study argues that a closer adherence to Med-Diet is independently associated with an increase of 25(OH)D suggesting that higher vitamin D levels may contribute to the protective effect of the Med-Diet on osteoporosis.

Keywords:

• Vitamin D
• Mediterranean Diet
• obesity
• Italy

Author contributions

G.D.P. and G.G. designed research; A.L., F.M., R.Z. and L.L. conducted research; G.D.P. and G.G. provided essential materials (database); C.B. and A.R.O. performed statistical analysis; R.Z. and G.D.P. had primary responsibility for final content.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The founders had no role in the design, execution, interpretation, or writing of the study.