Vitamin D Deficiency and Insufficiency in Obese Children and Adolescents and Its Relationship with Insulin Resistance

Abstract EN

Objectives.

We aimed to determine the relationship between insulin resistance and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels in obese children and their nonobese peers.

Materials and Methods.

Included in the study group were 188 obese children (aged 9–15 years), and 68 age- and gender-matched healthy children of normal weight as control group.

Anthropomorphic data were collected on patients and fasting serum glucose, insulin, serum lipids, alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) and 25-OHD were measured.

The homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated in both groups.

Results.

The levels of 25-OHD in the obese group were significantly lower than those of the nonobese (P=0.002).

HOMA-IR, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and ALT levels in the obese group were significantly higher than values of control group (P<0.001 and P=0.002, resp.).

In the obese group, vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency (25-OHD < 10 ng/dl, < 20, >10 ng/dl; > 20 ng/dl, resp.) were not correlated with HOMA-IR (r:−0.008, P=0.935).

HOMA-IR was negatively correlated with BMI, BMI SDS, and BMI%, and triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and ALT levels (P<0.001).

Conclusion.

The insulin resistance of the obese subjects who were vitamin D deficient and insufficient did not statistically differ from those with vitamin D sufficiency.

Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were not related with higher insulin resistance in obese children and adolescents.

In obese subjects, insulin resistance was affected more from BMI, BMI SDS, and BMI% than from 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels.