Vitamin D status among overweight and obese adolescents

Abstract

Introduction: Deficiency of vitamin D is pandemic and has been associated with a wide variety of disease states such as cardiovascular disease risk factors and impaired glucose homeostasis and are more common in overweight and obese children. Both endocrine and metabolic disorders occur with obesity and it has been suggested that obesity is a risk factor for vitamin D deficiency. The inverse association between higher body fat and lower vitamin D levels has been attributed to sequestration of the fat soluble vitamins within the plentiful adipose tissue. Aim and Objective: This study aims to determine the status of vitamin D levels in overweight and obese adolescent children and to compare them with age and sex matched healthy controls. Materials and Methods: This observational study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry in collaboration with Department of Pediatrics, Pt. B.D. Sharma, PGIMS, Rohtak. Twenty-five overweight and obese adolescents based on BMI were recruited in study group (Group II) and twenty-five age and sex matched healthy controls were included in group I (Control group). Study samples were drawn and serum vitamin D levels were analyzed by radioimmunoassay. Results: Out of 25 cases 12(48%) were overweight and 13(52%) were obese adolescents. Mean BMI in group I was 17.36±3.67 kg/m2 and in group II was 31.90±1.01 kg/m2. 14 (56%) had vitamin D levels