Vitamin D deficiency and dysfunctional adipose tissue are involved in the development of cardiometabolic disturbances (eg, hypertension, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and dyslipidemia). We studied 50 obese (body mass index [BMI]: 43.5 ± 9.2 kg/m²) and 36 normal weight participants (BMI: 22.6 ± 1.9 kg/m²). Obese individuals were classified into different subgroups according to medians of observed anthropometric parameters (BMI, body fat percentage, waist circumference, and trunk fat mass). The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25 (OH)D < 50 nmol/L) was 88% among obese patients and 31% among nonobese individuals; 25(OH)D were lower in the obese group (27.3 ± 13.7 vs 64.6 ± 21.3 nmol/L, p < .001). There was a negative correlation between vitamin D and anthropometric indicators of obesity: BMI: (r = - 0.64, p < .001), waist circumference (r = -0.59; p < .001), and body fat percentage (r = -0.64; p < .001) as well with fasting plasma insulin (r = -0.35; p < .001) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (r = - 0.35; p < .001). There was a negative correlation between vitamin D level and leptin and resistin (r = -.61; p < .01), while a positive association with adiponectin concentrations were found (r = .7; p < .001). Trend estimation showed that increase in vitamin D level is accompanied by intensive increase in adiponectin concentrations (growth coefficient: 12.13). In conclusion, we observed a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among obese participants and this was associated with a proatherogenic cardiometabolic risk profile. In contrast, a positive trend was established between vitamin D and the protective adipocytokine adiponectin. The clinical relevance of this relationship needs to be investigated in larger studies.

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