Vitamin D and selected cytokine concentrations in postmenopausal women in relation to metabolic disorders and physical activity

• Published in: Experimental gerontology 2020-11, Vol.141, p.111107-111107, Article 111107
• Main Authors: Lwow, Felicja, Bohdanowicz-Pawlak, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Body Mass Index; Cytokines; Exercise; Female; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Menopause; Metabolic Diseases; Metabolic disorders; Obesity; Physical activity; Postmenopause; Vitamin D; Vitamins
• ISSN: 0531-5565; 1873-6815
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2020.111107

Obesity and metabolic disturbances constitute significant health problems in elderly women. Due to the multifactorial background of these disorders, assessing the interaction between risk factors remains a significant part of prevention and health promotion. Studies have illustrated a relationship between low physical activity and vitamin D deficiency with obesity and its complications. Furthermore, vitamin D affects the production of adipokines and the inflammatory response in adipose tissue. The aim of our study was to determine the association between selected adipokines, vitamin D concentrations, physical activity (PA), and visceral adiposity index (VAI) in postmenopausal women. The study sample consisted of 318 ethnically homogenous postmenopausal women aged 50–60. Both anthropometric measurements (BMI, WC, WHR) and biochemical measurements (TC, HDL, LDL, TG, AIP, glucose, insulin, IL-6, TNF-α, adiponectin, leptin) were made, and PA by IPAQ were recorded. Body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), HOMA, atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), and VAI were calculated using the standard formulas. We observed a negative correlation between BMI, WC, insulin, HOMA, and PA. We determined that there is a negative association between leptin and vitamin 25(OH)D concentrations (P = 0.007) and a positive association with adiponectin (P = 0.014). The results of the multiple linear regression analysis indicate that vitamin D and HOMA are independent factors that significantly affect leptin and adiponectin levels, contrary to VAI. •Physical activity significantly improved insulin sensitivity, in healthy postmenopausal women aged 50–60.•The negative correlation of vitamin D and leptin concentrations and its positive correlation with adiponectin was found.•Maintaining vitamin D and physical activity are important to prevent metabolic disorders in postmenopausal women.