RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY INDICES, MUSCLE STRENGTH, AND BODY MASS INDEX (BMI) WITH VITAMIN D IN SEDENTARY WOMEN: A DESCRIPTIVE CORRELATIONAL STUDY

Recently, results of studies have shown that serum levels of vitamin D are
considered as a risk factor for the cardiovascular system as well as important markers of skeletal muscle
and body mass index (BMI). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship
between echocardiography indices, muscular strength, and BMI with vitamin D in sedentary
postmenopausal women.
Materials & Methods: In this descriptive correlational study, 54 postmenopausal women (54.57±6.16
yrs) participated. General and anthropometric characteristics of height, weight, and BMI in subjects
were measured by wall-meter, a digital scale, and DXA machines, respectively. Cardiac indices were
measured using an echocardiography Doppler machine. Upper and lower body strength were measured
via one-repetition maximum (1-RM) on the chest press and Squat Smith machines, respectively.
Handgrip (HG) strength was assessed using an HG dynamometer at the angle of 90 degrees from the
elbow. Vitamin D levels were measured using ELISA kit vitamin D from blood samples brachial vein.
Data analysis was done using SPSS-23 software with descriptive and inferential (Pearson-Correlation
Coefficient) statistical methods at a significance level of P<0.05.
Results: The results showed that there was a significant negative relationship between vitamin D and
cross-section of the aorta and aortic velocity time integral (AOVTI) (P<0.05). While there is no
significant relationship between serum levels of vitamin D and cardiac index, muscle strength of upper
& lower limbs, and BMI (P>0.05).
Conclusion: The results suggest that cardiac index, muscle strength, and BMI in postmenopausal
women are not affected by serum levels of vitamin D while vascular indices such as a cross-section of
the aorta and AOVTI are affected by serum levels of vitamin D.