Inverse relationship between vitamin D levels and platelet indices in Korean adults

Background and aims: Vitamin D deficiency and increased platelet indices are associated with increased rate or risk of several diseases such as cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome, respectively. We investigated whether vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased platelet count (PC) and mean platelet volume (MPV). Methods and results: The study included 3190 subjects older than 20 years. Subjects were divided into three groups based on their vitamin D levels: vitamin D deficiency (< 10.0 ng/ml); insufficiency (10-20 ng/ml); and sufficiency (> 20.0 ng/ml). The associations between platelet indices and various parameters were analyzed by Pearson's correlation analysis and t-tests. Then, multivariate linear regression analyses were done correcting for associated parameters. PC and MPV showed a negative correlation with vitamin D groups by ANOVA and multiple linear regression. PC was inversely related with vitamin D group after adjusting for sex, age, regular exercise, white blood cell count, total cholesterol, hemoglobin, and creatinine levels (beta +/- SE =-3.461 +/- 1.512, P = 0.022). MPV was also inversely related with vitamin D group after adjusting for regular exercise, hemoglobin level, and total cholesterol level (beta +/- SE= -0.080 +/- 0.026, P = 0.002), and this relationship remained statistically significant after adjusting for regular exercise, hemoglobin level, total cholesterol level, diabetes, hypertension, and body mass index (beta +/- SE=-0.082 +/- 0.026, P = 0.002). Conclusion: PC and MPV are inversely associated with vitamin D levels in adults.