Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D correlates with systolic blood pressure in obese male schoolchildren.

Introduction

childhood obesity is associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases. We aimed to examine the relation between serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) and blood pressure in obese schoolchildren. Material and methods: a cross-sectional study in school-age children with obesity. The serum levels of 25(OH)D were measured and classified as sufficient or insufficient/deficient. Blood pressure was measured. Normal values were considered < 90th percentile, elevated blood pressure ≥ 90th to < 95th percentiles, and hypertension ≥ 95th percentile, according to blood pressure reference tables specific for age, sex, and height. A Pearson correlation was performed.

Results

a total of 256 obese schoolchildren (123 [48.0 %] females and 133 [51.9 %] males) were evaluated. The prevalence rates of vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency were 23.4 %, 52.3 %, and 24.2 %, respectively. Normal blood pressure was observed in 101 (39.4 %) children; the frequencies of elevated blood pressure and hypertension were 10.9 % and 49.6 %, respectively. A moderate inverse correlation of 25(OH)D levels with systolic blood pressure levels (r = -0.54, p = 0.03) was observed. When analyzed by sex, a significantly high inverse correlation between 25(OH)D levels and systolic blood pressure was observed in males (r = -0.85 and p ≤ 0.001). No significant correlation was found in females (systolic r = -0.16 and p = 0.67; diastolic r = -0.15 and p = 0.812). When performing the multiple regression analysis, the 25(OH)D levels and BMI were the significant predictors for systolic blood pressure.

Conclusions

we identified an inverse correlation between 25[OH]D levels and systolic blood pressure in male schoolchildren with obesity.