Relation between plasma retinol level with different types of dyslipidemia in the middle-aged and the elderly: a cross-sectional study

The plasma retinol level is used as a recommended standard to evaluate the individual’s nutritional status of vitamin A. Change of blood retinol level is strongly associated with lipid metabolism disorders. Therefore, the accurate relation between plasma retinol level with different types of dyslipidemia need exploration. A total of 538 dyslipidemia and 1116 healthy middle-aged and elderly subjects from the communities of Beijing were investigated. The Chi-square test and One-way ANOVA were used to compare the demographic characteristics. The general linear model was used to compare dietary consumption and plasma biochemical parameters. Person correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between plasma retinol and lipids. Binary logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) were conducted to explore the association between plasma retinol and the risk of different types of dyslipidemia and the dose-response relationship. A significantly positive correlation between plasma retinol level with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and negatively correlation with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was observed. These correlations changed in patients with different types of dyslipidemia. Compared to the participates with Q₁ level of plasma retinol (< 0.420 μg/mL), Q₂(0.420−0.526 μg/mL), Q₃ (0.527−0.657 μg/mL) and Q₄ (> 0.657 μg/mL) levels showed significantly increased risk of dyslipidemia and mixed dyslipidemia. And participants with Q₄ level of plasma retinol showed a sharp increased risk of hypertriglyceridemia combined with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterolemia. The RCS results indicated a non-linear (U-shaped) relation between plasma retinol and the risk of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterolemia. Elevation in plasma retinol (above 0.525 μg/mL) indicated a significantly increased risk of dyslipidemia. The recommended plasma retinol level for the middle-aged and the elderly should be different type of dyslipidemia-dependent.