Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency Among Overweight and Obese US Children
Pediatrics, December 24, 2012, (doi: 10.1542/peds.2012-1711)
Christy B. Turer, MD, MHSa,b, Hua Lin, PhDa, and Glenn Flores, MDa,b
A Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; and
B Children’s Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
OBJECTIVE: Adequate vitamin D is essential for skeletal health in developing children. Although excess body weight is associated with risk of vitamin D deficiency, the national prevalence of and risk factors associated with vitamin D deficiency in overweight and obese children are unknown.
METHODS: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (defined as 25-hydroxyvitamin-D <20 ng/mL) was determined in a sample of 6- to 18-year-old children who were enrolled in a cross-sectional study (the 2003–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) in which body weight and height were measured directly. Children were classified as healthy-weight, overweight, obese, or severely obese by using recommended age- and gender-specific BMI-percentile cut points. Associations between BMI-percentile classification and vitamin D deficiency were examined after adjustment for relevant confounders. Sample weights were used to generate nationally representative estimates.
RESULTS: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in healthy-weight, overweight, obese, and severely obese children was 21% (20% – 22%), 29% (27% – 31%), 34% (32% – 36%), and 49% (45% – 53%), respectively. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in severely obese white, Latino, and African-American children was 27% (3% – 51%), 52% (36% – 68%), and 87% (81% – 93%), respectively. Compared with healthy-weight children, overweight, obese, and severely obese children had significantly greater adjusted odds of vitamin D deficiency. Modifiable factors associated with vitamin D deficiency in overweight/obese children were identified.
CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in overweight and obese children.
The particularly high prevalence in severely obese and minority children suggests that targeted screening and treatment guidance is needed.
Summary by VitaminDWiki
Heaviness | % Deficient All skin color | % Deficient Dark skin |
Healthy | 21 % | 27 % |
Overweight | 29 % | 52 % |
Obese | 34 % | 87 % |
Severely Obese | 49 % | 93 % |
See also VitaminDWiki
- Overview Obesity and Vitamin D
- All items in Obesity and vitamin D
441 items - 83 % of children had less than 20 ng of vitamin D – 15 ng avg for hispanic – Aug 2012
- All items in category Youth and vitamin D
174 items - Overview Dark Skin and Vitamin D
- 98 % of black women had less than 20 ng of vitamin D – July 2012 dark skin = lower vitamin D
- Several papers on Vitamin D for critically ill children in Journal of Pediatrics – Aug 2012
- Vitamin D levels vs weight – RCT Dec 2012
- Teen obesity strongly associated with vitamin D deficiency – April 2012
- The more vitamin D the lower the infant BMI – March 2011
- Obese children had low vitamin D – fat under dark skin – fat in white body – Mar 2011
See also web
Heavier kids more vitamin D deficient, especially if dark skinned – Pediatrics Dec 20125136 visitors, last modified 27 Dec, 2012, This page is in the following categories (# of items in each category)