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Minerals, trace elements, Vit. D and bone health

Investigating the causal effect of vitamin D on serum adiponectin using a mendelian randomization approach

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 68, pages 189–195 (2014)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

The aim was to examine the causal effect of vitamin D on serum adiponectin using a multiple instrument Mendelian randomization approach.

Subjects/Methods:

Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) and serum total or high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin were measured in two Danish population-based studies: the Inter99 study (6405 adults, 30–60 years) conducted in 1999–2001, and the MONICA10 study (2656 adults, 41–71 years) conducted in 1993–1994.

Results:

In the Inter99 study, serum 25(OH)D was positively associated with total adiponectin (the effect estimate in % per doubling of 25(OH)D was 4.78, 95% CI: 1.96, 7.68, P<0.001). Using variations in the vitamin D-binding protein gene and the filaggrin gene as instrumental variables, the causal effect in % was estimated to 61.46, 95% CI: 17.51, 120.28, P=0.003 higher adiponectin per doubling of 25(OH)D. In the MONICA10 cohort, no significant association was observed between the serum concentrations of 25(OH)D and HMW adiponectin (the effect estimate in % per doubling of 25(OH)D was −1.51, 95% CI: −5.80, 2.98, P=0.50), although the instrumental variables analysis to some extent supported a positive causal association (the effect estimate in % per doubling of 25(OH)D was 37.13, 95% CI: −3.67, 95.20, P=0.080).

Conclusions:

The results indicate a possible causal association between serum 25(OH)D and total adiponectin. However, the association was not replicated for HMW adiponectin. Thus, further studies are needed to confirm a causal relationship.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the Health Insurance Foundation (grant No. 2010 B 131), the Danish Agency for Science Technology and Innovation (grant No. 2101-06-0065) and the Region H Research Foundation. The authors wish to thank the Inter99 Steering Committee (Dr Torben Jørgensen (principal investigator), Dr Knut Borch-Johnsen (co-principal investigator) and Dr Charlotta Pisinger and all the members of the Inter99 staff at the Research Centre for Prevention and Health and Steno Diabetes Center.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Copenhagen University Hospital Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark

    L L N Husemoen, T Skaaby, T Jørgensen, B H Thuesen & A Linneberg

  2. Department of Biostatistics, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    T Martinussen

  3. Faculty of Health Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    T Jørgensen & J Jeppesen

  4. Department of Cardiology and Endocrinology, Copenhagen University Hospital Frederiksberg, Frederiksberg, Denmark

    C Kistorp

  5. Department of Medicine M, Copenhagen University Hospital Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark

    J Jeppesen

  6. Department of Dermato Allergology, National Allergy Research Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, Hellerup, Denmark

    J P Thyssen

  7. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, Hellerup, Denmark

    M Meldgaard & P B Szecsi

  8. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark

    M Fenger

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Correspondence to L L N Husemoen.

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Husemoen, L., Skaaby, T., Martinussen, T. et al. Investigating the causal effect of vitamin D on serum adiponectin using a mendelian randomization approach. Eur J Clin Nutr 68, 189–195 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2013.233

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