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A cross-sectional study of vitamin D and insulin resistance in children

Andrea Kelly1, Lee J Brooks, Shayne Dougherty

  • 1Division of Endocrinology/Diabetes, 1130 Northwest Tower, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th & Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. kellya@email.chop.edu

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|February 22, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Low vitamin D levels (25-hydroxyvitamin D) are common in children and linked to increased insulin resistance. This association was observed in children at higher risk for diabetes, including older children and African Americans.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Metabolic Health

Background:

  • Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in children and linked to various non-skeletal health issues.
  • Understanding the relationship between vitamin D status and metabolic markers like insulin resistance is crucial for pediatric health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) levels and fasting glucose, insulin, and insulin sensitivity in children.
  • To explore these associations in both obese and non-obese pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 85 children aged 4-18 years.
  • Measurements included serum 25-OH-D, fasting glucose, and insulin.
  • Insulin resistance was assessed using the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA); multivariable linear regression was employed for analysis.

Main Results:

  • Nearly half of the children studied had insufficient or deficient vitamin D levels (25-OH-D <50 nmol/l).
  • Lower 25-OH-D levels were significantly associated with higher fasting glucose, insulin, and HOMA scores, even after adjusting for puberty and BMI-Z.
  • Factors associated with lower 25-OH-D included older age, higher BMI-Z, and African-American race.

Conclusions:

  • Low vitamin D status is common in children, particularly those at risk for type 2 diabetes.
  • Reduced 25-OH-D levels are independently associated with increased insulin resistance in the pediatric population.
  • These findings highlight the importance of monitoring vitamin D in at-risk children for metabolic health.
Abstract

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