Exploring the relationship between serum vitamin D and atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patients: a cross-sectional study

Objective: To check if there is a link between good vitamin D levels in the blood and subclinical atherosclerosis in people on hemodialysis. Methods: Ninety end-stage renal disease patients undergoing regular hemodialysis were included in a cross-sectional study. Based on carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), patients were grouped into Group A (n = 44) with normal CIMT and Group B (n = 46) with increased CIMT. Clinical assessments, laboratory parameters (serum vitamin D, lipid profiles, and inflammatory markers), and CIMT were measured using carotid ultrasound. The researcher compared students' t-tests with quantitative variables, while employing the Chi-square or Fisher's exact test with qualitative variables. Results: A positive correlation was observed between serum vitamin D and calcium (p = 0.010) and triglycerides (p = 0.025). Serum vitamin D showed a negative correlation with weight, serum alkaline phosphatase, and urea. No significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of demographic factors, BMI, hemodialysis duration, diabetes prevalence, or vitamin D supplementation. Group B exhibited elevated serum calcium levels (p = 0.008). Multivariate analysis found weight as an independent predictor of low vitamin D levels (p = 0.016). Conclusion: Serum calcium levels were significantly associated with CIMT; however, no correlation was seen between vitamin D levels and CIMT. Trial registration: registered at clinicaltrials.gov (ID: NCT07200804).