The association between vitamin D status and cardiometabolic disorders in overweight and obese adolescents

Abstract

An increase in the prevalence of overweight and obese adolescents is often combined with a low level of vitamin D that may be associated with lipid and carbohydrate metabolism disorders, which underlie the development of arterial hypertension and cardiometabolic changes. This work aimed to determine the association between vitamin D status and the main parameters of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, and anthropometric measurements. A total of 196 adolescents (129 boys and 67 girls) from the Ternopil region were examined. Their mean age was 15.5 ± 2.3 years. Based on the body mass index (BMI): 60 adolescents had normal body weight, 60 were overweight, and 76 were obese. Anthropometric measurements and general examinations were performed. In blood serum 25(OH)D levels and the main parameters of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism were determined. Low levels of 25(OH)D were found. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among adolescents with BMI up to the 85th percentile was 56.7%, with BMI in the 85-97th percentiles was 70.0% and with BMI over the 97th percentile was 77.6%. Serum 25(OH)D levels in overweight and obese adolescents had a significant correlation with BMI (r = -0.427, P < 0.001), waist circumference (r = -0.462, P < 0.001), highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, r = 0.214, P = 0.023), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, r = -0.226, P = 0.011), atherogenic index (r = -0.284, P = 0.001), insulin level (r = -0.483, P < 0.001), and HOMA-IR index (r = -0.454, P < 0.001). We concluded that the development of cardiometabolic disorders in overweight and obese adolescents is associated with vitamin D status.