Background: Obesity is an abnormal fat accumulation that adversely affects human health. Studies reported several vitamin deficiencies in obese patients. The current study investigates the deficiencies of vitamins D, B6, and B12 among Jordanian adults with hyperlipidemia and demonstrates the association between serum vitamin levels and metabolic and lipid profile parameters.
Methods: Sixty male subjects were divided into 40 hyperlipidemic patients (age: 45.9 yr. ±10.2) and 20 controls (age: 41.2 yr. ±10.7). The blood levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, hemoglobin A1c, and vitamins D, B6, and B12 were measured.
Results: The hyperlipidemic patients showed significantly increased triglycerides, total cholesterol, non-HDL, cholesterol/HDL ratio, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)- cholesterol levels, and decreased HDL-cholesterol levels compared to the controls. No significant differences were found in the blood levels of vitamin D, vitamin B6, or vitamin B12 between groups. However, 50% of the hyperlipidemic patients and 54.5% of the controls exhibited vitamin D deficiency. Only the hyperlipidemic patients exhibited deficiencies of vitamins B6 and B12 in 5.4% and 3.3% of cases, respectively. In the controls, vitamin B12 level was inversely associated with total cholesterol, whereas in the hyperlipidemic patients, vitamin B6 level was inversely correlated with total cholesterol and non-HDL levels.
Conclusions: The hyperlipidemic patients exhibited vitamins D, B6, and B12 deficiencies. Additionally, vitamins B6 and B12 levels were inversely correlated with total cholesterol and non-HDL levels. Our findings highlight the importance of routine evaluation of vitamin levels in patients with hyperlipidemia.
Keywords: Cholesterol; Hyperlipidemia; Obesity; Vitamins.