Effect of smoking on vitamin D status in the adults of Henan, China: the role of HDL-C and LDL-C

Smoking has been reported to be associated with vitamin D (VD) status, but the evidence is limited. A cross-sectional study was conducted aiming to examine whether there is any effect of smoking on VD status in the adults based on the data sourced from the chronic diseases and nutrition surveillance in Henan. Multiple linear and multinomial logistic regression models based on the sampling design and weight were created to estimate the association between smoking and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration (S_25(OH)D_C) and VD status, respectively. It was found that in men, smokers had significantly lower S_25(OH)D_C and higher proportions of VD deficiency (VDD) and VD insufficiency (VDI) than non-smokers (S_25(OH)D_C: 18.2 ng/ml vs 19.8 ng/ml; proportion of VDD: 17.3% vs 14.3%; proportion of VDI: 44.7% vs 38.3%). Multivariate regression analyses demonstrated that in men smoking was independently associated with S_25(OH)D_C and VD status, reducing S_25(OH)D_C by 1.90 ng/ml, and increasing the risk of VDD and VDI by 134% and 65%, respectively. Further analysis stratified by the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) revealed that in men with low HDL-C and high LDL-C, smoking increased 8.24 and 4.08 times likely to having VDD and VDI, respectively. In conclusion, smoking reduced S_25(OH)D_C, and increased the risk of VDD and VDI in men, especially in men with low level of HDL-C and high level of LDL-C in Henan.