Association of 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels with indexes of generalized and abdominal obesity in Iranian adolescents: the CASPIAN-III Study

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Keywords: Obesity, 25hydroxy Vitamin D, Adolescents

Background: This study aims to determine the associationof serum 25-Hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels with measures of generalized and abdominal obesity in Iranian adolescents.

Methods: This nationwide study was conducted among 1090 students, aged 10-18 years, living in 27 provinces in Iran. Serum concentration of 25(OH)D was analyzed quantitatively by direct competitive immunoassay chemiluminescence method. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were considered as measures of generalized and abdominal obesity, respectively.

Findings: The mean age of participants was 14.7 ± 2.6 years; mean BMI 19.3 ± 4.2 kg/m2), the median serum 25(OH)D was 13.0ng/mL (interquartile range 6.8 -27.4). A total of 40 % were vitamin D deficient and 39 % were vitamin D insufficient. Serum 25(OH)D level was not associated with BMI and WHtR.

Conclusion: We did not document significant association between serum 25(OH) D level and anthropometric measures. This finding may be because of considerably high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in the study population.