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Pediatrics

Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D associated with indicators of body fat and insulin resistance in prepubertal chilean children

International Journal of Obesity volume 40, pages 147–152 (2016)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background:

Consistent data on the relation between vitamin D, body fat and insulin resistance (IR) in children are lacking.

Objectives:

(1) To evaluate the association between serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and key indicators of: adiposity (total and central), IR, and (2) to estimate serum 25(OH)D cut-offs that best reflect IR and total and central adiposity in children.

Subjects/Methods:

Prepubertal children (n=435, ~53% girls; ~age 7 years) from the Growth and Obesity Chilean Cohort Study were evaluated for potential associations between serum 25(OH)D and indicators of: (1) total adiposity (body mass index by age (BAZ), body fat (including three-component model)), central adiposity (waist circumference and trunk fatness); (2) IR (homeostasis model assessment of IR) and insulin sensitive (quantitative insulin sensitivity check index) using standardized multiple regression models with standardized coefficients and receiver operating characteristic curves.

Results:

Overall, mean serum 25(OH)D was 32.1±9.2 ng ml−1, while 19.4% of children were obese (BAZ⩾2 s.d.). Serum 25(OH)D was inversely associated with indicators of total and central adiposity and with IR indicators. Effect sizes were moderate in girls (~0.3 for adiposity and IR indicators), while, weaker values were found in boys. Serum 25(OH)D estimated cut-offs that best predicted total, central adiposity and IR were~30 ng ml−1. Children with suboptimal serum 25(OH)D (<30 ng ml−1) had a higher risk (two to three times) of being obese (high BAZ, body fat percent and/or central adiposity); and three to four times greater risk for IR.

Conclusions:

Serum 25(OH)D was inversely associated with adiposity (total and central) and IR indicators in prepubertal Chilean children. The conventional cut-off of vitamin D sufficiency (⩾30 ng ml−1) was adequate to assess obesity and IR risk in this age group.

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Acknowledgements

GC did this work as part of his doctoral thesis in Human Nutrition at the University of Chile, he wrote the first draft; CC and RU contributed in interpreting the data; all authors were involved in analyzing results and reviewing the paper. We thank the study personnel and GOCS participants that continue to collaborate with our research. Supported by FONDECYT grant no 1120326 (CC), grant no 1110085 (DLdR). GC is beneficiary of a PhD scholarship from Government of Chile (Conicyt, Development of Human Capital Program).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile

    G Cediel, C Corvalán, C Aguirre, D L de Romaña & R Uauy

  2. Nutrition Research Institute, Lima, Peru

    D L de Romaña

  3. Department of Nutrition and Public Health Intervention Research, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK

    R Uauy

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  1. G Cediel
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Correspondence to C Corvalán.

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Cediel, G., Corvalán, C., Aguirre, C. et al. Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D associated with indicators of body fat and insulin resistance in prepubertal chilean children. Int J Obes 40, 147–152 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2015.148

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