Association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D with sarcopenic obesity risk: a longitudinal observational study from the UK Biobank

Obesity (Silver Spring). 2025 Jun;33(6):1136-1144. doi: 10.1002/oby.24286. Epub 2025 May 1.

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to examine the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentration with the risk of sarcopenic obesity (SO) incidence.

Methods: We used the longitudinal observational data from the UK Biobank cohort to evaluate the association between serum 25(OH)D concentration and the risk of SO incidence (N = 46,535). Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CI between serum 25(OH)D concentration and risk of SO incidence by sex.

Results: During the median follow-up of 8.74 (IQR 6.70-11.06) years, there were 1086 incident SO cases. After multivariable adjustment, compared with the lowest quartile group, the HRs (95% CI) for the second, third, and fourth quartile of 25(OH)D concentration in female individuals were 0.66 (95% CI: 0.53-0.82), 0.53 (95% CI: 0.41-0.67), and 0.43 (95%: 0.33-0.55), respectively (ptrend < 0.001). Similarly, in male individuals, the HRs (95% CI) for the second, third, and fourth quartile of 25(OH)D concentration were 0.86 (95% CI: 0.66-1.10), 0.68 (95% CI: 0.56-0.92), and 0.40 (95% CI: 0.29-0.54), respectively (ptrend <0.001). A nonlinear association between serum 25(OH)D concentration and risk of SO incidence was observed in female (pnonlinear = 0.043) and male (pnonlinear = 0.008) individuals using restricted cubic spline analysis.

Conclusions: Higher serum 25(OH)D concentration was significantly associated with a lower risk of SO incidence in a dose-response relationship.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity* / blood
  • Obesity* / epidemiology
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Risk Factors
  • Sarcopenia* / blood
  • Sarcopenia* / epidemiology
  • UK Biobank
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology
  • Vitamin D* / analogs & derivatives
  • Vitamin D* / blood

Substances

  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D
  • Vitamin D