Comparison of Vitamin D status in obese and nonobese children: A hospital-based prospective cohort study

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study is to compare the Vitamin D3 level in obese children in a tertiary care center in Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir), India, and to find the association between Vitamin D3 levels and the comorbidities of obesity. Materials and Methods: Twenty obese children and 20 controls were included in the study group. Obesity defined by international obesity task force (criteria) Questionnaires Form and anthropomorphic data were collected on patients, and fasting blood glucose, lipids, liver function tests, renal function test and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) were measured. Results: The levels of 25-OHD in the obese group were significantly lower than those of the control group (χ = 0.000). About 80% of obese children and 10% of controls were Vitamin D deficient; similarly, 20% of obese children and 35% of controls had Vitamin D insufficiency. There was no statistical significant difference of mean serum Vitamin D level between male and female children in both cases and controls. Calorie intake (P = 0.11), serum cholesterol, and triglycerides were significantly raised among the obese group with the mean (152.70 ± 18.85) than in the control group (134.65 ± 15.27) (P = 0.002). There was no significant association of 25 (OH) Vitamin D3 level with the other comorbidities of obesity such as deranged blood sugar, liver function tests, and lipid profile. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is significantly more prevalent in obese children and showed a linear relationship, but we were unable to find any significant statistical association between 25 (OH) Vitamin D3 levels with the comorbidities of obesity.