Associations of vitamin D with novel and traditional anthropometric indices according to age and sex: a cross-sectional study in central southern China

Purpose Vitamin D insufficiency and obesity are recognized as worldwide concerns and have been linked with each other. New anthropometric indices reflect visceral obesity better than traditional anthropometric indices. Our aim was to identify the specific correlations of novel and traditional anthropometric indices with 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations by sex and age. Methods Cross-sectional data on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, clinical characteristics and biochemical measurements were collected for 12,617 Chinese adults. Four traditional anthropometric indices, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and two novel anthropometric indices, body roundness index (BRI) and body shape index (ABSI), were calculated. Results In both sexes, the mean values of BMI, WC, WHtR and BRI tended to increase with 25(OH)D insufficiency, regardless of adjustment (all P < 0.05). Males with insufficient 25(OH)D had increased odds of obesity (assessed by BMI, WC, WHtR, BRI and ABSI) compared to the odds of males with sufficient 25(OH)D. Females with insufficient 25(OH)D had a higher chance of general obesity (assessed by BMI). Low 25(OH)D status was associated with indicators of obesity only in participants aged 45–64 years in both sexes. Conclusion A inverse association between obesity and lower vitamin D levels was found. Moreover, in addition to BMI, novel indicators of visceral adiposity, such as BRI and ABSI, were associated with lower 25(OH)D serum concentrations in males. The effects of optimizing vitamin D levels in obese Chinese adults need further examination, particularly in middle-aged males. Level of evidence Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.