BACKGROUND: Proper vitamin D intake is important due to its pleiotropic effect. It seems that obese population is a groups at risk of the vitamin D deficiency. OBJECTIVE: To assess the vitamin D status in 1-5-year-old children with simple obesity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 100 children: classified according to their body mass index (BMI) as obese - Group I (n=50) and non-obese - Group II (n=50). Their serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations were determined in the spring-summer and autumn-winter seasons and vitamin D intake (diet/supplements) was assessed. The study results were statistically analysed by means of Statistica 10PL. RESULTS: In Group I the mean serum 25(OH)D level was 23.6±10.8 ng/ml, while in Group II it reached 26.6±9.8 ng/ml (p=0.08). The concentration ≤30 ng/ml was observed in 80% of children in Group I and in 70% of Group II. In autumn- winter and spring-summer period, respectively, 88.5% and 70.9% of the obese children had an insufficient vitamin D status (p=0.002). The mean daily intake of vitamin D was 128 IU (3.2 µg) in Group I and 188 IU (4.7 µg) in Group II. CONCLUSIONS: Children aged 1-5 (obese and non-obese) are a group at risk of the vitamin D deficiency, as a consequence of its insufficient intake and the lack of appropriate supplementation. Those particularly exposed to that risk are obese children in the autumn-winter season. Children aged 1-5 should be monitored with regard to their vitamin D status. KEY WORDS: vitamin D, obesity, children, obese children, vitamin D deficiency.
BACKGROUND: Proper vitamin D intake is important due to its pleiotropic effect. It seems that obese population is a groups at risk of the vitamin D deficiency. OBJECTIVE: To assess the vitamin D status in 1-5-year-old children with simple obesity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 100 children: classified according to their body mass index (BMI) as obese - Group I (n=50) and non-obese - Group II (n=50). Their serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations were determined in the spring-summer and autumn-winter seasons and vitamin D intake (diet/supplements) was assessed. The study results were statistically analysed by means of Statistica 10PL. RESULTS: In Group I the mean serum 25(OH)D level was 23.6±10.8 ng/ml, while in Group II it reached 26.6±9.8 ng/ml (p=0.08). The concentration ≤30 ng/ml was observed in 80% of children in Group I and in 70% of Group II. In autumn- winter and spring-summer period, respectively, 88.5% and 70.9% of the obesechildren had an insufficient vitamin D status (p=0.002). The mean daily intake of vitamin D was 128 IU (3.2 µg) in Group I and 188 IU (4.7 µg) in Group II. CONCLUSIONS:Children aged 1-5 (obese and non-obese) are a group at risk of the vitamin D deficiency, as a consequence of its insufficient intake and the lack of appropriate supplementation. Those particularly exposed to that risk are obesechildren in the autumn-winter season. Children aged 1-5 should be monitored with regard to their vitamin D status. KEY WORDS: vitamin D, obesity, children, obesechildren, vitamin D deficiency.