Vitamin D Metabolites, Body Composition, and Nutritional Status in Patients in the Long Term After Kidney Transplantation

Background

The main sources of biologically inactive vitamin D are its skin synthesis due to UVB [1] radiation and its ingestion with diet [2]. Activation of vitamin D occurs during the two-step hydroxylation: first in the liver, where 25-hydroxylase produces 25(OH)D and second in the kidney’s proximal tubular cells, where 1α-hydroxylase actives it to 1,25(OH)2D (calcitriol), although this hydroxylation also may appear in other tissues and organs [3]. One of the extrarenal sources of 1,25(OH)2D is adipose tissue (subcutaneous and visceral), which contains specific enzymes with 25-hydroxylase activity (CYP2R1, CYP2J2, and CYP27A1) [3]. Adipose tissue is also responsible for vitamin D storage [4] and expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR) [5,6]. After binding with VDR, 1,25(OH)2D regulates gene and hormone expression of leptin, insulin sensitizing hormone, and adiponectin [6] and therefore body composition, mainly fat tissue content, can influence vitamin D status. Some studies found that obesity, defined by body mass index (BMI), is associated with lower 25(OH)D levels [7–9]. Vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency is common in the general population [10] and in kidney transplantation (KTx) patients [11]. Nevertheless, kidney recipients are exposed to additional risk factors of vitamin D insufficiency such as decreased graft function, dietary restrictions, recommendations to avoid sun exposure with its increased probability of developing skin cancer, immunosuppressive drugs use including steroids, and calcineurin inhibitors influencing vitamin D catabolism or possible urine void-related loss of vitamin D proteins binder [12–14]. However, some studies showed no relationship between graft function and vitamin D status [11,15], which suggests that other factors determine vitamin D levels in this population. A growing number of studies document an increase of BMI and fat tissue content in most patients after KTx [11,16].

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships of 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D levels with body composition and nutritional status in patients in the long term after KTx.

Material and Methods

We included 105 patients (42 F, 63 M, mean age 49.33±12.17 years) in a long term after KTx with stable graft function, living in Poland (at the latitude 51°46′N 19°27′E). They underwent KTx from a deceased donor between 2004 and 2013 and had been under the care of the outpatient post-transplant clinic. All gave their consent to participate in the study. The Bioethics Commission approved the protocol.

The inclusion criteria were as follows: patients over 12 months after KTx, stable graft function during last 6 months (changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) below 5 ml/min/1.73 m2), with immunosuppressive regimen consisting of a low-dose prednisone (5.0±2.5 mg/d) with calcineurin inhibitor: cyclosporin (CsA) or tacrolimus (TAC) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or sodium (MPS).

The exclusion criteria were as follows: supplementation with any of vitamin D compounds (ergocalciferol, cholecalciferol, alphacalcidol, or calcitriol), calcium or cinacalcet treatment during last 6 months, any pharmacological treatment for osteopenia or osteoporosis, severe hypocalcemia or hypercalcemia, uncontrolled hyperparathyroidism, history of any cancer, acute conditions including infection during the last month, diseases preventing active movement, and travel associated with increased sunlight exposure in the previous 6 months.

The study was based on 2 visits: first in summer (August, September) and second in winter (January, February). On both visits height, body weight, and body composition measurements (BCM) were performed. BCM was done using electrical bioimpedance body composition monitoring by Fresenius Medical Care BCM (Bad Homburg von der Hohe, Germany); the reference range was compared to parameters available on the manufacturer’s website. BCM parameters were measured: fat mass (FAT), fat tissue index (FTI), adipose tissue mass (ATM), lean tissue mass (LTM), lean tissue index (LTI), body cell mass (BCM), total body water (TBW), intracellular water (ICW), and extracellular water (ECW).

Fasting blood samples were collected during the same routine ambulatory visits: serum creatinine, albumin, total protein, glucose, CRP, total cholesterol (TC), HDL cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), (LDL-cholesterol calculated using the Friedewald formula), parameters of calcium-phosphate metabolism: parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium and phosphorus, blood count, and concentration of TAC/CsA before the next dose of the drug. Blood samples were centrifuged and frozen at −80°C to assess the level of 25(OH)D, calcitriol, and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23). The albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) in the first morning urine collection was also determined on the same visits. 25(OH)D was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (25-OH Vitamin D total; Demeditec; Kiel-Wellsee, Germany), calcitriol (ELISA kit for calcitriol; Wuhan, China) and FGF-23 (ELISA kit for FGF-23; Wuhan EIAab Science; Wuhan, China). Graft function was determined by assessing eGFR calculated on the basis of a simplified MDRD formula (The Modification of Diet in Renal Disease). Vitamin D status was determined by 25(OH)D level based on the KDIGO guidelines and was described as: sufficient >30 ng/mL, insufficient 15–30 ng/mL, and deficiency <15 ng/mL [17]. BMI values were further set into 4 categories in line with the World Health Organization guidelines: low <18.5 kg/m2, normal 18.5–24.9 kg/m2, overweight 25.0–29.9 kg/m2, and obesity over 30 kg/m2. For abnormal lipid levels we assumed: TC >190 mg/dl, TG >150 mg/dl. For statistical analysis, IBM SPSS program was used. Normal distribution was tested by Shapiro-Wilk test. The correlation between 2 quantitative parameters was measured with Pearson correlation coefficient (for normal distribution) or Spearman correlation coefficient (without normal distribution). Differences between parameters for 2 independent groups were evaluated by the t test (for normal distribution) and U Mann-Whitey test (without normal distribution). The strength of the effect was measured by Cohen d factor for t test and by eta-squared (η2) for U Mann-Whitey test. Differences between parameters for 3 independent groups were evaluated by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc tests for normal distribution variables and Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA test with post hoc tests for variables without normal distribution. The strength of the effect was measured by η2, with relevant formula for one-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA. The correlation between 2 qualitative parameters was estimated by chi-square (χ2) test. Differences between parameters for 2 dependent groups (summer and winter) were evaluated by t test for linked variables with normal distribution or by Wilcoxon test for variables without normal distribution. The strength of the effect was measured by η2 for t test for related variables and for Wilcoxon test. Logistic regression model with stepwise forward feature selection was fitted to identify independent factors predictive of the 25(OH)D level. For all tests, P value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results

In this prospective observational study, 64 adult patients (26 F, 38 M) at mean age 49.3±12.2 years (range 20–72 years) and 5.6±2.7 years (range 2–16 years) after KTx, dialyzed for 2.24±0.32 years (range 0.5–3.9 years) prior to surgery were finally included into the analysis. We disqualified 41 patients out of 105 originally included: 15 patients because of missing follow-up visits, 18 patients because of presence of active inflammation on a follow-up visit, 7 patients started supplementation of vitamin D or calcium, and 1 patient changed transplant clinic. The causes of end-stage kidney disease were: glomerulonephritis (n=24), cystic degeneration of the kidneys (n=11), chronic interstitial nephritis (n=6), reflux nephropathy (n=4), diabetic nephropathy (n=3), and idiopathic reasons (n=16).

Mean annual level of 25(OH)D was 18.76±6.32 ng/dl and of 1,25(OH)2D was 86.65±18.0 pg/ml. Mean levels of both metabolites in summer were significantly higher than during winter. Tests performed in winter showed higher HDL cholesterol, but the other parameters of lipid metabolism did not show a seasonal relationship. Lower concentrations of total protein in winter were noted, but both total protein and albumin levels were within laboratory norms. The laboratory data including vitamin D metabolites levels, graft function, serum albumin and protein levels, lipids, and ACR are presented in Table 1.

The seasonal anthropometric data and body composition parameters are presented in Table 2. The winter measurements of weight and BMI were significantly higher than in summer. Likewise, during winter significantly higher FTI, FAT, and ATM levels were observed. LTM, LTI, and BCM levels were significantly lower. No significant differences between anthropometric and biochemical parameters were found among groups with deficiency, insufficiency, and normal 25(OH)D level, except that the height of patients was positively associated with vitamin D level: 167.69±7.02 cm, 168.43±8.87, cm and 179.5±8.58 cm; P=0.04, respectively. No influence of weight or BMI on vitamin D metabolites was observed between these groups, perhaps because of the small number of subjects with normal 25(OH)D levels. However, patients with higher BMI tended to have a lower level of 25(OH)D (Table 3).

We observed an inverse association between parameters of body fat content and 25(OH)D concentrations: patients in FTI <90 percentile had a statistically higher 25(OH)D level than those with FTI >90 percentile (22.15±8.17 vs 17.89±5.53 kg/m2; P=0.03). Furthermore, a reverse relationship between 25(OH)D level and FTI was observed (r=−0.26; P=0.039). The 25(OH)D level increased with elevation of body cell mass (r=0.30, P=0.017) and LTM (r=0.30, P=0.015). No correlation between 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D levels was found (r=−0.22; P=0.076).

Patients with sufficient vitamin D content had a lower TC level in comparison to patients with 25(OH)D <30 ng/ml (171.63±34.87 vs 216.03±39.61 mg/dl; P=0.03). A similar relationship was observed between 25(OH)D and TG levels (104.00±30.84 vs 166.71±71.05 mg/dl; P=0.05). Patients with TC <190 mg/dl level had a higher level of 25(OH)D than those with hypercholesterolemia (20.67±7.50 vs 17.83±5.52 ng/ml; P=0.092). Furthermore, an inverse relationship was found between 1,25(OH)2D level and HDL (r=−0.25, P=0.046), and between 25(OH)D and TC (r=−0.31, p=0.012), and LDL level (r=−0.25, P=0.049). No significant correlations between the levels of serum total protein or albumin and 25(OH)D or 1,25(OH)2D were found.

No other significant differences in biochemical parameters (including graft function parameters, mineral parameters, ie, PTH and FGF-23, and albuminuria) were found between patients with a normal vs insufficient level of vitamin D.

Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors affecting the vitamin D metabolite levels. The model of prediction of 25(OH)D level was built with 10 variables out of 16 proposed. All of the variables were significant and are presented in Table 4. Such a model could not be built for 1,25(OH)2D.

Discussion

One study showed that most of KTx patients in Poland have vitamin D deficiency, independent of graft function [11]. There are many other factors that can affect vitamin D status in the KTx population. Both lack of vitamin D [11,13,18] and obesity [19,20] are features frequently observed among KTx recipients. There are few reports that analyzed active vitamin D metabolites levels in relation to body composition, especially in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and even fewer in those after KTx. Considering the important role of fat tissue in the vitamin D metabolism, in our study we undertook to analyze the association of body composition and nutritional status with vitamin D metabolite levels in this population. We found that with an increase in body fat volume, the 25(OH)D level decreases, while lean body mass content has a positive effect on this hormone. We did not observe such a phenomenon in relation to 1,25(OH)2D level. Furthermore, neither body weight nor BMI in our patients were associated with 25(OH)D or 1,25(OH)2D level. However, the BMI value was found to be one of the factors affecting the 25(OH)D level in linear regression analysis.

The data regarding the relationship between BMI and 25(OH)D in CKD patients [21] including KTx recipients [22] are ambiguous. Most studies on the general population show a reverse correlation between BMI and 25(OH)D level [23,24]. Figuiredo-Dias et al found lower 25(OH)D level with rising BMI among non-dialyzed CKD patients in stages 2–5 [25], which corresponds with the results of our study. Similar to our results, the authors found no correlation between vitamin D levels and GFR [25]. Obesity is commonly diagnosed based on BMI value in the KTx population [11,16,26] and is associated with excess body fat mass [27]. A previous study conducted in our center showed that during the first 3 years following KTx, 65% of patients gained weight, with a mean BMI increase in the whole study population of 0.4±1.3 kg/m2 per year [16]. Lower 25(OH)D level with increasing fat tissue content and BMI in KTx patients was also observed by Baxmann et al [28]. Similar to our observations, the authors show that fat tissue amount and BMI are independent factors affecting 25(OH)D level, but this was not observed for eGFR or proteinuria [28]. Excess fat tissue, particularly indexes of obesity, were found to be strongly associated with vitamin D insufficiency among Brazilians after KTx [29]. They showed that patients with either vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency had significantly higher values of body fat and greater weight gain since transplantation [29].

Our current and previous studies and observations of other researchers seem to suggest that the increase of fat tissue mass and even more so weight gain are important risk factors of vitamin D deficiency in patients in the long term after KTx. Considering that a decrease of fat tissue mass with a concurrent increase in lean tissue mass may improve vitamin D status, the build-up of cellular and muscular mass in order to prevent obesity and fat tissue accumulation by regular physical activity and healthy lifestyle should be recommended.

The mechanism by which obesity affects 25(OH)D levels in KTx patients remains unknown, but limited physical activity with a resulting weight gain and less exposure to the sun are highly probable. Wortsman et al showed that 24 hours after ultraviolet exposure, the increase of vitamin D concentrations was 57% smaller in the obese than in nonobese subjects, but the content of vitamin D in the skin was not significantly different between groups [24]. It is therefore suspected that obesity alters the release of vitamin D from the skin and subcutaneous fat, which is known to store vitamin D and which sequesters more of the cutaneous synthesized vitamin D, into the blood circulation [24]. The higher lipogenesis and reduced lipolysis observed in overweight patients may decrease bioavailability of vitamin D as well [28]. Genetic factors are also considered [23]. Furthermore, some authors suggest a connection between PTH elevation and increased fat tissue volume [30,31]. We observed a tendency to an increase of PTH level and decrease of 25(OH)D in our recipients.

Vitamin D insufficiency is also identified as a risk factor of dyslipidemia, both in the general population [32–34] and in CKD patients [35,36]. Vitamin D increases expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors α (PPAR-α), which play key role in lipids metabolism in hepatocytes [37]. In our study we observed that along with increasing 25(OH)D level, TC and LDL levels decrease, and TC, HDL, and LDL levels were factors affecting 25(OH)D levels in linear regression analysis. We noticed a reverse relationship between calcitriol and HDL level. Data assessing associations between particular components of lipids and vitamin D metabolites are unequivocal – some of them show the relationship, some do not [29,38,39]. However, we must emphasize that most of our patients (73%) had received statin therapy, so the described improvement cannot be assigned only to the beneficial influence of vitamin D. Sikgenc et al showed that vitamin D supplementation in KTx patients decreases TC and TG levels [38]. Keyzer et al showed a positive relationship between 25(OH)D and LDL level and a negative relationship between 25(OH)D and waist circumference and dialysis vintage before KTx [40]. They also identified factors positively influencing 1,25(OH)2D level: 25(OH)D level, eGFR, HDL (reverse correlation in our study), and negatively with transplantation vintage. In our study the linear model for 1,25(OH)2D could not be built. Considering this and the lack of correlation between 1,25(OH)2D and 25(OH)D, it can be assumed that other factors and relationships affect their level, in which one or more variables are not in linear dependence. Based on these data, it can be presumed that body composition affects vitamin D metabolism in KTx patients, but vitamin D affects the lipid profile, although determining the exact dependence requires further studies in larger populations. Lack of assessment of the thyroid hormones profile, which can affect the lipids profile and nutrition markers, is a limitation of our study. We did not observe any relationship between vitamin D metabolite levels and serum levels of total protein or albumin as markers of nutrition, but none of our recipients showed laboratory markers of malnutrition. FGF-23 suppresses the activity of 1α-hydroxylase and escalates the activity of 24-hydroxylase of vitamin D in the proximal tubule, which results in the reduction of concentration of active vitamin D metabolites [41]. The higher levels of FGF-23 observed in our patients in winter may be also one of the factors resulting in lower levels of active vitamin D metabolites.

As far as we know, our study is the first to present correlations between body composition and nutrition with 25(OH)D or 1,25(OH)2D in KTx patients in Central Europe. However, there were limitations to this study, including a small sample size from a single center and shortage of precise data about changes in patient weight from the moment of KTx to our measurements. Due to the small group size of patients and statin intake by most of them, we did not divide the population into treated/non-treated with statins to evaluate the relationships between lipid concentrations and vitamin D metabolites. A strength of our study is its complex evaluation of all assessed parameters at 2 time points, during summer and winter, and taking under consideration the average of those 2 measurements, which eliminates the influence of season on vitamin D metabolites.

Conclusions

Body composition is one of the factors affecting vitamin D status in KTx patients. Fat tissue index is a negative predictor of 25(OH)D level in patients in the long term after KTx. A low level of 25(OH)D predisposes to lipids disturbances in KTx recipients. However, further studies performed on larger populations are necessary to corroborate our observations.