Metabolomics Profiling of Vitamin D Status in Relation to Dyslipidemia

The impact of vitamin D status on lipid profiles and atherogenic dyslipidemia markers in children and adolescents with obesity

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Adequate serum vitamin D levels correlate with a more favorable lipid profile compared to deficient levels. Despite the well-established prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children with obesity, studies investigating its influence on lipid profiles in this population are scarce. We explored the impact of vitamin D status on lipid profiles and markers of atherogenic dyslipidemia in a cohort of children and adolescents with obesity.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 271 Caucasian children and adolescents with overweight/obesity and a control group of 54 pediatric patients with normal weight. All participants underwent outpatient visits for the assessment of clinical parameters and venous blood collection for biochemical analysis such as triglycerides (TG)/HDL-C ratio, LDL-C/HDL-C ratio, atherogenic index of plasma AIP), vitamin D level. Individuals with obesity displayed severe vitamin D deficiency (25-OH-D ≤10 ng/ml) at a higher frequency compared to those with normal weight (p = 0.03). In patients with overweight/obesity and low 25-OH-D levels show higher values of glycemia (p = 0.001), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR and TRYG p < 0.001), TG (p < 0.001), TG/HDL-C (p = 0.001), AIP (p < 0.001), SBP (p = 0.01), and DBP (p = 0.04). In normal-weight individuals with low 25-OH- D levels an increased values of glycemia (p = 0.01), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR p = 0.01 and TRYG p = 0.002), TG (p = 0.01), TG/HDL-C (p = 0.02), AIP (p = 0.01). A direct correlation between 25-OH-D levels and metabolic parameters is observed.

CONCLUSIONS

A correlation between vitamin D levels and the lipid/atherosclerotic profile was recorded. Vitamin D deficiency may represent a preventable and easily treatable cardiometabolic risk factor, emphasizing the importance of early intervention and preventive measures.

Vitamin D status affects proteomic profile of HDL-associated proteins and inflammatory mediators in dyslipidemia

Vitamin D deficiency and dyslipidemia have substantial implications for human health globally. Vitamin D is essential for bone metabolism and immune modulation, and its insufficiency is linked to various chronic inflammatory conditions. Dyslipidemia, characterized by low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides, is also prevalent. Previous research has shown a connection between vitamin D deficiency and low HDL, but the precise mechanism by which vitamin D influences HDL production and its anti-inflammatory properties remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the proteomic profiles of individuals with and without vitamin D deficiency and dyslipidemia, specifically focusing on the effects of vitamin D on HDL production, its anti-inflammatory potential, and the molecular pathways associated with vitamin D deficiency and dyslipidemia, particularly inflammation and cancer pathways. By analyzing the proteomic profiles of 274 participants from the Qatar Biobank database, we identified 1301 proteins. Our findings indicated a decrease in HDL-associated apolipoproteins (ApoM and ApoD) in individuals with both dyslipidemia and vitamin D deficiency. Conversely, participants with these conditions exhibited increased expression of acute-phase proteins (SAA1 and SOD1), which are associated with inflammation. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed heightened inflammatory activity in individuals with vitamin D deficiency and dyslipidemia, with notable enrichments in pathways such as MAPK, JAK-STAT, Ras signaling, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, AGE-RAGE, ErbB signaling, and cancer pathways. Overall, cases of vitamin D deficiency showed enrichment in inflammation pathways, while individuals with both vitamin D deficiency and dyslipidemia demonstrated enhanced activation of cancer and inflammation pathways.

Interplay between Vitamin D and Sphingolipids in Cardiometabolic Diseases

Sphingolipids (SLs) are structural, bioactive molecules with several key cellular roles, whereas 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)D), the active form of vitamin D, is considered the major regulator of calcium homeostasis, although it also exerts other extraskeletal effects. Many studies reported the physiological connection between vitamin D and SLs, highlighting not only the effects of vitamin D on SL metabolism and signaling but also the influence of SLs on vitamin D levels and function, thus strongly suggesting a crosstalk between these molecules. After a brief description of 1,25(OH)D and SL metabolism, this review aims to discuss the preclinical and clinical evidence on the crosstalk between SLs and 1,25(OH)D, with a special focus on cardiometabolic diseases.

Insight into the Interaction Mechanism of Vitamin D against Metabolic Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis and In Silico Study

As a dietary supplement or functional food additive, vitamin D (VD) deficiency may impact extra-skeletal functions associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk factors. However, the precise effects and mechanisms of VD supplementation on dyslipidemia and insulin resistance in MetS subjects remain controversial. Here, we investigate potential therapeutic targets, pathways and mechanisms of VD against MetS through a comprehensive strategy including meta-analysis, network pharmacology analysis, molecular docking, dynamics simulations, and quantum chemical calculations. Our results reveal that VD supplementation significantly reduces triglyceride levels, fasting glucose, and insulin concentrations in subjects, thereby improving insulin homeostasis to some extent. We theoretically identify 14 core MetS-associated targets. Notably, VD exhibits substantial interactions with three targets (PPARγ, FABP4, and HMGCR) in the PPAR signaling pathway, indicating that VD can modulate this pathway. Van der Waals forces predominantly stabilize the complexes formed between VD and the three targets. Nonetheless, to provide valuable insights for personalized MetS management, further research is necessary to confirm our findings, emphasizing the importance of exploring genetic variability in VD response. In conclusion, our study contributes insights into the mechanisms of VD in preventing and treating MetS through dietary supplementation, promoting the development of VD-based functional foods or nutritious diets.

L-shaped association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in older people with chronic kidney disease: results from the NHANES database prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

This study was conducted to assess the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in older people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the United States.

METHODS

We identified 3230 CKD participants aged ≥ 60 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2001-2018). CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 ml/min/1.73 m². Mortality outcomes were determined by linkage to National Death Index (NDI) records through December 31, 2019. Restricted cubic spline based on Cox regression models were utilized to elucidate the nonlinear relationship between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and mortality in patients with CKD.

RESULTS

During median 74 months of follow-up, 1615 all-cause death and 580 CVD death were recorded. We found an L-shaped association between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and all-cause and CVD mortality, reaching a plateau at 90 nmol/L. Accordingly, per one-unit increment in natural log-transformed 25(OH)D was associated with a 32% and 33% reduced risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 0.68; 95%CI, 0.56 to 0.83) and CV mortality (HR 0.69; 95%CI, 0.49 to 0.97) in participants with serum 25(OH)D < 90 nmol/L, but no considerable difference was observed in participants with serum 25(OH)D ≥ 90 nmol/L. Compared with those in the deficiency group (< 50 nmol/L), insufficient (50 to < 75 nmol/L) and sufficient group (≥ 75 nmol/L) were significantly associated with lower all-cause mortality (HR,0.83; 95%CI, 0.71 to 0.97 and HR, 0.75; 95%CI, 0.64 to 0.89) and CV mortality (HR,0.87; 95%CI, 0.68 to 1.10 and HR, 0.77; 95%CI, 0.59 to < 1.0), respectively.

CONCLUSION

An L-shaped relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels with all-cause and CVD mortality was observed in elderly CKD patients in the United States. A 25(OH)D concentration of 90 nmol/L may be the target to reduce the risk of premature death.

Plasma concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are associated with perturbations in lipid and amino acid metabolism

Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) through the environment can lead to harmful health outcomes and the development of disease. However, little is known about how PFAS impact underlying biology that contributes to these adverse health effects. The metabolome represents the end product of cellular processes and has been used previously to understand physiological changes that lead to disease. In this study, we investigated whether exposure to PFAS was associated with the global, untargeted metabolome. In a cohort of 459 pregnant mothers and 401 children, we quantified plasma concentrations of six individual PFAS- PFOA, PFOS, PFHXS, PFDEA, and PFNA- and performed plasma metabolomic profiling by UPLC-MS. In adjusted linear regression analysis, we found associations between plasma PFAS and perturbations in lipid and amino acid metabolites in both mothers and children. In mothers, metabolites of 19 lipid pathways and 8 amino acid pathways were significantly associated with PFAS exposure at an FDR<0.05 threshold; in children, metabolites of 28 lipid pathways and 10 amino acid pathways exhibited significant associations at FDR<0.05 with PFAS exposure. Our investigation found that metabolites of the Sphingomyelin, Lysophospholipid, Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (n3 and n6), Fatty Acid- Dicarboxylate, and Urea Cycle showed the most significant associations with PFAS, suggesting these may be particular pathways of interest in the physiological response to PFAS. To our knowledge, this is the first study to characterize associations between the global metabolome and PFAS across multiple periods in the life course to understand impacts on underlying biology, and the findings presented here are relevant in understanding how PFAS disrupt normal biological function and may ultimately give rise to harmful health effects.