Assessment of Vitamin D Status and Response to Vitamin D Supplementation in Obese and Non-obese Children at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: Obesity seems to be a critical issue nowadays because of its high prevalence and its adverse effects on health. There is some evidence indicating the relationship between obesity and lower serum 25- hydroxyvitamin D concentration. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess the vitamin D status and estimate the response to vitamin D in obese and non-obese children after vitamin D supplementation. Methods: This was a Quasi experimental study, done in Paediatric Endocrinology Clinic and Paediatric Outdoor, Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) from August 2018 to February 2019. Vitamin D was measured in 20 obese and 20 non-obese children aged 10-18 years. Hypovitaminosis D was observed in all (100%) obese children and 15 (75%) non-obese children. Four thousand IU was given orally daily in obese and non-obese vitamin D deficient children for 3 months. Serum levels of vitamin D, calcium, inorganic phosphate, Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and Parathormone (PTH) also measured before and after vitamin D supplementation. Results: The mean age was 11.64±1.40 years in obese and11.15±2.40 years in non-obese children, and male female ratio was 1:1.3. Hypovitaminosis D was present in 100% in obese and 75% in non-obese children. Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) was observed in 85% and vitamin D insufficiency (VDI) was in 15% in obese children. In non-obese children VDD was observed in 86.7% and VDI in 13.3% cases. In both the groups serum vitamin D was increased, alkaline phosphatase and parathormone levels were decreased significantly, and serum calcium was increased and serum inorganic phosphatase was decreased but not statistically significant after four thousand IU daily vitamin D supplementation for three months. After vitamin D supplementation, vitamin D status were found normal in 60% obese and 53.3% non-obese children, VDI were in 30% obese/overweight and 26.7% in non-obese children, and VDD were in 10% obese/overweight and 20% in non-obese children. Conclusion: VDD was observed in both obese and non-obese children. Therapeutic responses were observed with 4000 IU/day vitamin D supplementation for three months in both the groups. Bangladesh Medical Res Counc Bull 2022; 48: 90-96