Vitamin D and Body Mass Index/Obesity in Postmenopausal Women: A Cross‐Sectional Study With Analysis of the Atherogenic Index of Plasma as a Mediator

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the link between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and obesity in postmenopausal women, and to evaluate the potential mediating effect of the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP). METHODS: ), while mediation analysis quantified the role of AIP. RESULTS: After comprehensive covariate adjustment, a significant inverse relationship was observed between serum 25(OH)D and BMI (β = -2.36, 95% CI: -3.16, -1.55). Vitamin D deficient women exhibited a mean BMI increase of 1.98 units (95% CI: 0.96, 3.00) and an elevated odds of obesity (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.30, 2.50) relative to the sufficient group. These findings were robust across demographic and clinical subgroups. Mediation analysis indicated AIP accounted for 9.53% of the association with BMI and 9.40% with obesity (both p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a significant inverse association between vitamin D status and obesity in postmenopausal women, with lipid metabolism, as reflected by AIP, partially mediating this relationship. Further longitudinal research is required to establish causality.