Vitamin D In Pediatric Patients With Obesity And Arterial Hypertension

Abstract Aim The purpose of this study was finding potential discrepancies in vitamin D levels between different groups: overweight children with hypertension, normal-weight children with hypertension, overweight children and normal-weight children without hypertension –control group. We also wanted to determine whether there are correlations between vitamin D levels and other clinical laboratory parameters, to evaluate the need for substitution. Methods We measured vitamin D, homocysteine, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, uric acid, glucose, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B, alkaline phosphatase, calcium, phosphate and magnesium serum levels in all groups. We also took anthropometric measurements (body weight, height, BMI) and observed patients’ blood pressure. The results were analyzed with SPSS statistic tool with the use of independent t-test, Pearson correlation test and multi-variate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Results The study included 175 children between 5 and 18 years of age. 57 were healthy (group A – control group), 41 normal-weight with hypertension (group B), 44 overweight with hypertension (group C) and 33 overweight (group D). The results showed statistically significant distinction in values of vitamin D between all groups -– A and B (p = 0.003), A and C (p = 0.000), A and D (p = 0.000), B and D (p = 0.043), B and C (0.030), except for groups C and D (p = 0.830). There were statistically significant correlations between vitamin D and BMI (r=-0.196, p = 0.010), systolic pressure (r=-0.190, p = 0.002), diastolic pressure (r=-0.149, p = 0.050), homocysteine (r=-0.208, p = 0.007), triglycerides (r=-0.196, p = 0.011) and apolipoprotein A1 (r = 0.222, p = 0.007) among all groups. Conclusion The pilot study shows significant differences in serum vitamin D levels between all groups of children, apart from groups C and D. these results, combined with statistically significant correlations between vitamin D and systolic and diastolic blood pressure suggest the need for monitoring and potential substitution of vitamin D in in pediatric patients with hypertension and/or overweight children.