Association between vitamin D and Apo B concentrations in Argentinean Indian children

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Nutritional Science
• Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology

Background:

• Vitamin D insufficiency is a global health concern.
• Non-traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors require further investigation, particularly in pediatric populations.
• Apolipoprotein B (Apo B) is an emerging marker for CVD risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in South American Indian school children.
• To investigate the association between vitamin D levels and non-traditional CVD risk factors, specifically Apo B.
• To explore vitamin D's role as a potential CVD risk marker in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 355 South American Indian school children (aged 9.6±2.3 years).
• Measurements included anthropometrics, glucose, lipids, insulin, Apo B, Apo A, and 25(OH)D (vitamin D) concentrations.
• Statistical analyses included univariate and multiple linear regression.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 10.7%.
• Only 0.3% of children had optimal vitamin D concentrations (>30 ng/ml).
• Vitamin D levels showed significant associations with various lipid parameters, insulin, HOMA-IR, and Apo B (p<0.05). Multiple regression identified female gender and Apo B as significant predictors of vitamin D levels.

Conclusions:

• Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in this population.
• Vitamin D deficiency is significantly associated with increased Apo B levels in Indian school children.
• Apo B may serve as a valuable risk marker for cardiovascular disease in the context of vitamin D deficiency.