Vitamin D Deficiency and Association With Body Mass Index and Lipid Levels in Hispanic American Adolescents

In this retrospective study, vitamin D deficiency was examined with body mass index (BMI) and lipid levels in a sample of Hispanic American adolescents. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among 234 subjects aged 13 to 19 years was 27.8%. Vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with a BMI of 85 kg/m² or higher (odds ratio = 2.02, 95% confidence interval = 1.11-3.69, χ² = 5.37, P = .021), and 55.6% of the sample were overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 85%). In the overweight or obese subjects, vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with higher mean lipid levels compared with those with adequate vitamin D levels: total cholesterol = 165 ± 28.6 mg/dL versus 145.7 ± 27.5 mg/dL, P = .0003; low-density lipoprotein = 92.7 ± 25.7 mg/dL versus 80.8 ± 21.4 mg/dL, P = .007; and triglycerides = 148.9 ± 97.1 mg/dL versus 90.6 ± 40.7 mg/dL, P = .0000. The mean triglyceride level of 148.9 mg/dL in the overweight or obese subjects was in the dyslipidemic range. In the underweight and healthy weight subjects (BMI ≤ 84), there was no statistically different lipid levels between the vitamin D adequate and vitamin D deficient groups. The effect of vitamin D on lipid levels was confirmed by regression analysis. Elevated lipids and dyslipidemic triglyceride levels, associated with vitamin D deficiency in overweight or obese Hispanic American adolescents, indicates a need for clinical monitoring and appropriate intervention.