Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 21, 2026
In Situ Measurement of Vacuum Window Birefringence using 25Mg+ Fluorescence
Published on: June 13, 2020
Relationship between 25-Hydroxy Vitamin-D and Obesity in 2-7 years old Children Referred to a Paediatric Hospital in
Sakineh Mohammadian1, Reyhaneh Mortezazadeh2, Hossein Zaeri3
1Associate Professor, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Taleghani Hospital , Gorgan, Iran .
Insights
Pediatric vitamin-D deficiency is prevalent, with no significant link to body mass index (BMI). However, waist circumference showed a correlation with vitamin-D levels in children, suggesting potential ethnic group differences.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing concern, linked to adult complications like diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome.
- Observational studies suggest a potential association between vitamin-D levels and obesity in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and serum vitamin-D levels in pediatric outpatients.
- To identify factors influencing vitamin-D status in children aged 2 to 7 years.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional observational study involving 215 children (2-7 years old) in Iran.
- Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist circumference) and serum vitamin-D levels (ELISA) were assessed.
- Statistical analysis included t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficient.
Main Results:
- A high prevalence of vitamin-D deficiency (85.6%) and inadequacy was observed.
- No significant association was found between BMI and vitamin-D levels.
- A significant linear relationship was identified between waist circumference and serum vitamin-D (p<0.01).
- Vitamin-D levels differed significantly across ethnic groups (p<0.002).
Conclusions:
- High prevalence of vitamin-D deficiency in young children warrants attention.
- While BMI was not directly correlated, waist circumference and ethnic background showed associations with vitamin-D status.
- Recommendations include increased sun exposure and vitamin D supplementation.
Background:
Obesity is increasing in children and it can cause many complications in adulthood, such as Diabetes mellitus (DM) and metabolic syndrome. In observational studies, vitamin-D was one of the factors which were found to be associated with obesity.
Aims:
To determine the association between body mass index (BMI) and serum level of vitamin-D in children who were outpatients at Taleghani Paediatric Hospital, Iran.
Settings And Design:
This was a cross-sectional observational study done on 215 children who were 2 to 7 y old, who were referred to Taleghani Hospital in winter (1391 solar calendar) 2013.
Materials And Methods:
In this cross-sectional study, anthropometric indices: weight, height and waist circumference were measured by using identical instruments. BMI was also determined as per CDC 2000 criteria. Vitamin-D levels were estimated by ELISA.
Statistical Analysis:
Vitamin-D levels which were less than 20 nmol/L were considered as a deficiency, levels which were 20-30 nmol\L were considered as inadequate and those which were equal to or greater than 30 nmol\L were considered as sufficient. t-test, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation coefficient at a significant level of 0.05 were applied and data were analysed by using SPSS (version 16).
Results:
One hundred and twenty five children (47.4%) were males and the rest were females. One hundred eighty four children (85.6%) had vitamin-D deficiency and only 31 had adequate levels of vitamin-D. The prevalence of obesity and overweight were 27%, but considering the vitamin-D status, it was found to be insignificant. However, there was a linear relationship between waist circumference and serum vitamin-D (p<0.01). The means and standard deviations of serum vitamin-D levels in girls and boys were 22.76 ±11.62 and 23.46 ± 9.30 nmol/L and this difference was not significant. Vitamin-D levels found in the three ethnic groups of Fars, Turkmen and Sistani showed significant differences (p<0.002).
Conclusions:
There was a high prevalence of vitamin-D deficiency in 2 to 7 year olds. There was no significant relationship between BMI and vitamin-D, but it was recorded in ethnic groups, and there was a correlation between waist circumference and vitamin-D levels. More exposure to sunlight and prescription of vitamin supplements were recommended.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Ending Relationships
00:59Hospitals-II
Nurses that work in...
01:28Hospitals-I
01:30Vitamins
02:12Relationship Formation
01:24Obesity