Our investigation centered on whether vitamin D levels play a significant role in iron deficiency anemia (IDA). We examined data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which included over 3,700 participants, to explore the relationship between vitamin D and IDA.
Our findings indicated that higher levels of serum vitamin D are linked to a lower risk of developing IDA. Specifically, those in the highest quartile of vitamin D levels had a significantly reduced risk compared to those in the lowest quartile. Interestingly, this protective effect appeared to be more pronounced in women.
We also found a non-linear relationship, suggesting that the effects of vitamin D on anemia become more complex at different levels. This was further supported by a Mendelian randomization analysis, which provided genetic evidence for a causal connection between vitamin D and IDA.
Overall, our results suggest that adequate vitamin D levels could be important for preventing anemia, especially among women. However, further research is certainly needed to confirm these findings and to investigate the potential for vitamin D treatment in managing IDA directly.