Central body fat deposits are associated with poor vitamin D status in Chinese children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the association between regional fat deposits and vitamin D levels in Chinese children. Whether regional fat distribution contributes to vitamin D deficiency remains uncertain.

METHODS

A population-based, nationwide and multicenter cross-sectional study involving 6,589 pediatric participants (49.9% boys) ages 6 to 18 y. The regional fat mass index (FMI) variables were calculated as regional fat mass (kg) divided by the square of height (m2), and plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels were measured.

RESULTS

Among boys, after adjustment for multiple variables (including opposite regional fat), higher values for trunk FMI and android FMI were associated with a greater likelihood of vitamin D inadequacy (odds ratios [ORs], 2.14 and 1.87, respectively), whereas the extremity FMI and gynoid FMI were associated with protection from vitamin D inadequacy (ORs, 0.63 and 0.71, respectively). Consistently, increased central fat distribution (e.g., trunk or android to total fat ratio) and decreased peripheral fat distribution (e.g., extremity or gynoid to total fat ratio) were associated with greater odds of vitamin D inadequacy. Among girls, the associations of regional fat with vitamin D were weaker than those in boys, and most analyses did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Regional fat deposits were associated with vitamin D status in Chinese school-aged children and more pronounced among boys.