Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Anthropometric Parameters in Patients With Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity has become epidemic worldwide and is now a great public and clinical health challenge. Metabolic syndrome is one of the disorders associated with obesity. Accumulating evidence shows inverse correlation of serum 25(OH)D3 with obesity and anthropometric parameters. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on anthropometric parameters in patients with metabolic syndrome.We utilized randomized controlled double – blind intervention, administering 300,000 IU vitamin D in divided doses of 6 50,000 IU pearls per day to the treatment group and 6 pearls of placebo to control group in the first week of intervention. Participants were 88 men and women aged 30 to 65 which had metabolic syndrome according to NCEP-ATP III definition and had referred to diabetes clinic of Emam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran. 25(OH)D3 levels and anthropometric parameters including weight, BMI, waist circumference and waist to hip ratio were measured at the beginning and 3 months later. There was a significant increase in serum 25(OH)D3 levels from 20 ng/ml to 33 ng/ml at the end of the study in vitamin D supplemented group (P-value < 0.001). There was a significant decrease in waist circumference in the vitamin D supplemented group at the end of the study (P-value = 0.005). There was no significant difference in weight, BMI and waist to hip ratio in the groups at the end of the study. Improving vitamin D status decreases waist circumference but does not affect other anthropometric parameters in patients with metabolic syndrome.