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Many obese children have low levels of vitamin D

Category: Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment

The majority of obese adolescents may benefit from vitamin D testing, as a new study has shown that the vast majority have dangerously low levels of the nutrient. Allowing a deficiency to persist may result in cardiovascular risks.

Researchers from the Hasbro Children's Hospital reported in the Journal of Adolescent Health that obesity and vitamin D deficiency have both separately been shown to lead to cardiovascular complications. The two conditions together could be even more dangerous.

The study collected data from 68 obese adolescents pertaining to their vitamin D levels. The results showed that all of the girls in the study had either deficient or insufficient levels of the nutrient, while 91 percent of the boys examined had low levels.

"Based on the findings from this study, we are calling for increased surveillance of obese adolescents whose vitamin D levels do not normalize after initial course of treatment," said Zeev Harel, who led the study.

He added that addressing low vitamin D levels may help obese children to avoid health complications later in life.