Serum Gamma Glutamyltransferase Is Associated with 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Status in Elderly Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Dec 2;17(23):8980. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17238980.

Abstract

Background: No previous study has investigated the association between gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) and vitamin D in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated the cross-sectional associations between vitamin D status as assessed by serum 25(OH)D and GGT.

Methods: 169 patients were enrolled. Study population was divided into three groups: 1: 25(OH)D < 10 ng/mL (n = 59); 2: 25(OH)D 10-20 ng/mL (n = 82), and 3: 25(OH)D > 20 ng/mL (n = 28). Based on a cut-off GGT value identified in ROC analysis, we also divided the study population to compare the following groups: GGT ≤19 (n = 66) and GGT >19 (n = 103).

Results: GGT activity was the highest in vitamin D severely deficient patients and the lowest in vitamin D insufficient patients. GGT was inversely correlated with 25(OH)D concentrations (R = -0.23; p = 0.002). The receiver operating characteristics curve identified the discrimination threshold of GGT of >19 U/L in predicting vitamin D deficiency. Higher leukocyte and neutrophil counts and lower 25(OH)D concentration were found in patients with GGT > 19 U/L.

Conclusions: We identified an interaction between declining 25(OH)D levels and rising GGT levels with increasing age, which resulted in an unfavorable 25(OH)D-to-GGT ratio in stable CAD patients. These results suggest that these changes might further contribute to a high cardiovascular risk in the elderly.

Keywords: 25(OH)D; coronary artery disease; gamma glutamyltransferase; vitamin D.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Coronary Artery Disease / epidemiology*
  • Coronary Artery Disease / metabolism
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin D / metabolism
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / epidemiology*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / metabolism
  • gamma-Glutamyltransferase / blood*

Substances

  • Vitamin D
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D
  • gamma-Glutamyltransferase