The influence of puberty on vitamin D status in obese children and the possible relation between vitamin D deficiency and insulin resistance

摘要

Background: Puberty can affect vitamin D levels.Objectives: The goal of this study was to analyze the relationbetween vitamin D deficiency and puberty in obeseSpanish children, along with the possible interrelationbetween vitamin D status and degree of insulin resistance.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out, inwhich clinical and biochemical data were gathered from120 obese and 50 normal weight children between January2011 and January 2013.Results: Mean vitamin D levels were 19.5 and 31.6 ng/mLin obese pubertal and obese prepubertal children, respectively.About 75% of the obese pubertal subjects and 46%of the obese prepubertal subjects had vitamin D deficiency.Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in pubescent subjectscompared with pre-pubescent subjects in summer,fall, and winter. There was no apparent relation betweenvitamin D levels and homeostasis model assessment indexfor insulin resistence (expressed in standard deviation scorefor sex and Tanner stage) in either puberty or pre-puberty.Conclusion: Puberty may be a risk factor for the vitaminD deficiency commonly found in the obese child population.This deficiency is not associated with higher insulinresistance in obese pubertal children compared withobese prepubertal children