Vitamin D deficiency and anemia: a cross-sectional study.
Vitamin D has been suggested to have an effect on erythropoiesis. We sought to evaluate the prevalence of anemia in a population of individuals with vitamin D deficiency compared with those with normal levels in a population of a large integrated healthplan. A cross-sectional analysis in the period 1 January 2004 through 31 December 2006 of subjects with documented concurrent levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and hemoglobin were evaluated. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as <30 ng/mL and anemia was defined as a hemoglobin <11 g/dL. A total of 554 subjects were included in the analysis. Anemia was present in 49% of 25-hydroxyvitamin D-deficient subjects compared with 36% with normal 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels (p < 0.01). Odds ratio for anemia in subjects with 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency using logistic regressions and controlling for age, gender, and chronic kidney disease was 1.9 (95% CI 1.3-2.7). 25-hydroxyvitamin D-deficient subjects had a lower mean Hb (11.0 vs. 11.7; p = 0.12 ) and a higher prevalence of erythrocyte stimulating agent use (47% vs. 24%; p < 0.05). This study demonstrates an association of vitamin D deficiency and a greater risk of anemia, lower mean hemoglobin, and higher usage of erythrocyte-stimulating agents. Future randomized studies are warranted to examine whether vitamin D directly affects erythropoiesis.
Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, 4700 Sunset Blvd., 2nd Floor Nephrology, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA. John.j.sim@kp.org
John J
JJ
Sim
Peter T
PT
Lac
In Lu A
IL
Liu
Samuel O
SO
Meguerditchian
Victoria A
VA
Kumar
Dean A
DA
Kujubu
Scott A
SA
Rasgon
D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004920:Erythropoiesis / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology
D014807:Vitamin D