Association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and metabolic syndrome in Korean children and adolescents

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D is required not only for bone health but also has been reported to play a role in a range of ailments such as autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, depression, and certain types of cancer. Several studies have reported that poor vitamin D status during childhood and adolescence is related to obesity and metabolic syndrome. Objective and hypotheses: We investigated the association between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and the presence of metabolic syndrome components in Korean children and adolescents. Methods: 141 Korean children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 were enrolled. Anthropometric data including height, weight, body mass index (BMI, kg/ m2), waist circumference, and blood pressure were obtained. 25(OH)D, serum lipid, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and insulin were measured and HOMAIR was calculated. Metabolic syndrome in this study was defined by modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEPATP III). Results: Among total 141 subjects, 26 (18.4%) children and adolescents had metabolic syndrome. Children and adolescents who have metabolic syndrome have significantly lower serum 25(OH)D concentration than those who do not have (12.35 ± 4.65 vs. 14.81 ± 4.63 ng/mL) (p=0.015). Waist circumference, SBP, fasting plasma glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR are significantly correlated with serum 25(OH)D concentration (p< 0.05). Only LDL-cholesterol is significantly different according to tertile groups of serum 25(OH)D concentration. The odds ratio of group I (25(OH)D < 11.50 ng/mL) is 1.826 compared to group III (25(OH)D >16.30 ng/mL). Conclusions: Children and adolescents who have metabolic syndrome have lower serum 25(OH)D concentration. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome may be higher in children and adolescents with severe 25(OH)D deficiency.