Vitamin D deficiency and airflow limitation in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Ageing

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and has also been linked to comorbidities often present in COPD. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate whether vitamin D deficiency was related specifically to airflow limitation or whether vitamin D deficiency was determined by conditions that frequently coexist with COPD: insulin resistance, hypertension, anaemia, obesity and hypercholesterolaemia. Methods: For this cross-sectional analysis, we included 897 subjects from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Subjects taking vitamin D supplements were excluded. Airflow limitation was defined as FEV₁/FVC <lower limit of normal. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between vitamin D deficiency (25-hydroxy vitamin D <20 ng/mL) and possible determinants. Results: Vitamin D deficiency was not specific for subjects with airflow limitation. Body mass index (BMI) (OR: 1·05, P <0·03) and obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m²) (OR: 1·9, P <0·002) were significantly associated with vitamin D deficiency in the adjusted multivariate regression analysis. Physical activity was associated with a decreased risk of vitamin D deficiency. Conclusions: Airflow limitation was not an independent determinant of vitamin D deficiency. The effect of weight loss and increased physical activity on vitamin D levels should be investigated further in intervention studies.