Vitamin D status and associated metabolic risk factors among North Korean refugees in South Korea: a cross-sectional study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Vitamin D deficiency is now recognised as a common health problem associated with various chronic diseases; however, it has not been fully elucidated among the minority groups. Here, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its associated metabolic risk factors among North Korean refugees living in South Korea.

DESIGN:

Cross-sectional analysis from the longitudinal cohort, the North Korean refugee health in South Korea (NORNS) study.

PARTICIPANTS:

A total of 386 North Korean refugees aged ≥30 years, who measured serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) level.

RESULTS:

The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D <20 ng/mL) was 87% and no participants had an adequate vitamin D level (25(OH)D ≥30 ng/mL). Underweight participants (body mass index (BMI) <18 kg/m(2)) had significantly lower 25(OH)D levels than individuals with normal BMI (≥18.5 and<23 kg/m(2)). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the lowest 25(OH)D level (<10 ng/mL) was significantly associated with metabolic syndrome (OR, 6.37, 95% CI 1.34 to 30.3), high triglyceride (OR, 6.71, 95% CI 1.75 to 25.7), and low high-density lipoprotein (OR, 5.98, 95% CI 1.54 to 23.2) compared with 25(OH)D levels ≥20 ng/mL after adjusting for age, sex, season, length of residence in South Korea, physical activity and BMI.

CONCLUSIONS:

Vitamin D deficiency is very common among North Korean refugees in South Korea. Despite their lower BMI, vitamin D deficiency was associated with metabolic syndrome in this population.

• Authors: Kyeong Jin Kim, Yoon Jung Kim, Sun Hwa Kim, Jee Hyun An, Hye Jin Yoo, Hee Young Kim, Ji A Seo, Sin Gon Kim, Nan Hee Kim, Kyung Mook Choi, Sei Hyun Baik, Dong Seop Choi, Nam Hoon Kim
• Journal: BMJ open (BMJ Open) Vol. 5 Issue 11 Pg. e009140 (Nov 30 2015) ISSN: 2044-6055 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 26621518 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

Chemical References

• Triglycerides
• Vitamin D
• 25-hydroxyvitamin D

Topics

• Adult
• Asian People
• Body Mass Index
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Democratic People's Republic of Korea (ethnology)
• Female
• Humans
• Logistic Models
• Longitudinal Studies
• Male
• Metabolic Syndrome (epidemiology)
• Middle Aged
• Multivariate Analysis
• Nutrition Surveys
• Refugees (statistics & numerical data)
• Republic of Korea (epidemiology)
• Risk Factors
• Triglycerides (blood)
• Vitamin D (analogs & derivatives, blood)
• Vitamin D Deficiency (epidemiology)