Association of vitamin D status and cardio-metabolic risk factors in children and adolescents: the CASPIAN-V study

• Published in: BMC nutrition 2021-11, Vol.7 (1), p.1-71, Article 71
• Main Authors: Qorbani, Mostafa, Heidari-Beni, Motahar, Ejtahed, Hanieh-Sadat, Shafiee, Gita, Goodarzi, Farid, Tamehri Zadeh, Seyed Saeed, Khademian, Majid, Mohammadian Khonsari, Nami, Motlagh, Mohammad Esmaeil, Asayesh, Hamid, Jabbari, Mohammad, Heshmat, Ramin, Ebrahimi, Mehdi, Kelishadi, Roya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdomen; Adolescents; Age; Blood pressure; Children; Childrens health; Demographics; Electronic games; Families & family life; Gender; Metabolic syndrome; Obesity; Pediatrics; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; Risk factors; Socioeconomic factors; Students; Surveillance; Teenagers; Variance analysis; Vitamin D; Vitamin deficiency
• ISSN: 2055-0928; 2055-0928
• DOI: 10.1186/s40795-021-00477-5

Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) starts from early life and is one of the important underlying factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in adulthood. Controversial evidence exists on the role of vitamin D deficiency in increasing the risk of pediatric MetS. Objective This study aimed to assess the relationship between vitamin D level with MetS and its components in children and adolescents. Methods This nationwide cross-sectional study was performed as part of a surveillance program in Iran. Participants were 2596 students, aged 7 to 18 years, living in 30 provinces. In addition to filling questionnaires, a physical examination was conducted, and blood samples were collected. The serum concentration of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured using the direct competitive immunoassay chemiluminescence method. Results 2596 students with a mean age of 12.2 y (55.1% boys) were recruited. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in participants was 10.6% (n = 276), and 60.5% (n = 1570), respectively. The prevalence of MetS was higher in the vitamin D deficient group. Students with deficient vitamin D levels had higher odds of MetS (OR: 4.25, 95%CI: 2.26–7.98), abdominal obesity (OR: 2.24, 95%CI: 1.61–3.12), low HDL-C (OR: 1.65, 95%CI: 1.18–2.30) and high fasting blood sugar (OR: 2.56, 95%CI: 1.43–4.57) in comparison to those with sufficient level of vitamin D. Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency was associated with increased odds of MetS and its components in the Iranian pediatric population. These findings underscore the importance of prevention and control of vitamin D deficiency in preventative programs against NCDs.