Associations between ambient air pollution, obesity, and serum vitamin D status in the general population of Korean adults

• Published in: BMC public health 2022-09, Vol.22 (1), p.1-1766, Article 1766
• Main Authors: Kim, Byungmi, Hwang, Juyeon, Lee, Hyejin, Chae, Gyeong Min, Kim, Seyoung, Kim, Hyo-Seon, Park, Bohyun, Kim, Hyun-Jin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D; Adults; Air pollution; Alfacalcidol; Ambient air pollution; Body fat; Body mass index; Body size; Calcifediol; Calciferol; Carbon monoxide; Chronic exposure; Complications and side effects; Diameters; Disease control; Environmental aspects; Exposure; Family income; General adults; Health aspects; Inflammation; Measurement; Nitrogen dioxide; Obesity; Particulate emissions; Particulate matter; Pollutants; Population; Properties; Public health; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; Subgroups; Testing laboratories; Vitamin D; Vitamin D status; Vitamin deficiency; Womens health
• ISSN: 1471-2458; 1471-2458
• DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14164-y

Background Although a growing body of evidence suggests air pollution is associated with low serum vitamin D status, few studies have reported whether obesity status affects this relationship. The aim of this study was to identify associations between ambient air pollution exposure, obesity, and serum vitamin D status in the general population of South Korea. Methods This study was conducted in a cross-sectional design. A total of 30,242 Korean adults from a nationwide general population survey were included for our final analysis. Air pollutants included particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter [less than or equai to] 10 [mu]m (PM.sub.10), nitrogen dioxide (NO.sub.2), and carbon monoxide (CO). We measured serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration to assess vitamin D status for each participant. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify associations between ambient air pollution and vitamin D status in each subgroup according to body mass index level. Results The annual average concentrations of PM.sub.10, NO.sub.2, and CO were significantly associated with a lower serum vitamin D concentration and higher risk of vitamin D deficiency. The results show a significant association between serum vitamin D status and PM.sub.10 exposure in obese subgroup. Based on the gender, females with obesity showed more strong association (negative) between different air pollutants and low serum vitamin D concentration and a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency. However, this pattern was not observed in men. Conclusions This study provides the first evidence that women with obesity may be more vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency in the context of persistent exposure to air pollution. Keywords: Ambient air pollution, Chronic exposure, Vitamin D status, General adults