Susu M. Zughaier
College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar P.O. Box 2731
Title: Vitamin D Status Association with Monocyte Percentage to HDL (MHR) as biomarker to predict dyslipidemia among Young Healthy Qatari Cohort
Biography
Biography: Susu M. Zughaier
Abstract
Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency are highly prevalent in Qatar and are associated with metabolic syndrome. Low vitamin D status is associated with altered lipid profile characterized by reduced HDL. Monocytes play an important role in host defense as they secrete inflammatory cytokines and in cholesterol metabolism as well. The aim of this study is to investigate the unknown association of vitamin D status with monocyte percentage to HDL (MHR) among healthy Qatari population. In a cross-sectional study that included a cohort of 874 subjects, Qatar Biobank data was utilized to retrospectively investigate the association between vitamin D levels and the following lipid metabolism related parameter: monocyte percentage, HDL, LDL, TG, total cholesterol, uric acid, vitamin B12, estrogen, testosterone and BMI in Qatari young healthy adults.
Within the cohort, vitamin D status was as follows: 74 subjects were sufficient, 400 subjects were insufficient and 400 subjects were deficient. Vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with monocyte percentage (P = 0.01), estrogen (P = 0.036), and vitamin B12 (P < 0.001) after adjusting for age and gender. Using continuous analysis, monocyte percentage was inversely associated with vitamin D (P = 0.002, correlation coefficient = -0.5) and HDL (P = 0.003, correlation coefficient = -0.02) levels. However, monocyte percentage was strongly and positively associated with uric acid (P < 0.0001, correlation coefficient = 6.03), and testosterone (P < 0.000, correlation coefficient = 1.07) levels. Taken together, the data suggest that monocyte to HDL (MHR) is associated with vitamin D status and could be a useful marker to predict inflammation associated with dyslipidemia.