Association between vitamin D deficiency, adiposity and solar exposure in participants with arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus

<p>Currently, several studies have shown a relationship between vitamin D deficiency and type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity and hypertension. The major cause of vitamin D deficiency is the lack of adequate sun exposure. The objective of the study was to evaluate serum vitamin D level and to verify its association with vitamin D ingestion, body composition and solar exposure in patients participating in the Hypertension and Diabetes System in Cascavel, PR. A total of 304 adult and elder patients from both genders participated in the study. Demographic and anthropometric data, lifestyle, presence of previous diseases, dietary and serum levels of vitamin D were evaluated. We used the chi square test for association verification and compliance and the Kruskal-Wallis test to compare medians between variables. It was verified serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) deficiency (&lt;20ng/mL) in 52.6%, overweight and obesity in 73.4%, increase in abdominal circumference in 77.6% and in body fat percentage in 95.6% of the patients. There was no association between ingestion and serum vitamin D levels. Significant association was found between abdominal circumference (p