Response to vitamin D replacement therapy in obese children and adolescents with vitamin D deficiency: a randomized controlled trial

Sarah Deruyter; Stephanie Van Biervliet; Ann De Guchtenaere

doi:10.1515/jpem-2022-0598

Article

Response to vitamin D replacement therapy in obese children and adolescents with vitamin D deficiency: a randomized controlled trial

Sarah Deruyter , Stephanie Van Biervliet and Ann De Guchtenaere

Published/Copyright: March 13, 2023

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From the journal Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism Volume 36 Issue 5

Abstract

Objectives

Vitamin D deficiency is common in the pediatric group with obesity and is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome. Supplementation of vitamin D may require higher dosing than in normal-weight children. The aim of our study was to investigate the response of supplementation on vitamin D levels and the metabolic profile in youths with obesity.

Methods

Children and adolescents with obesity (Body mass index >2.3 SDS, age ≤18 years) and hypovitaminosis D (level <20 μg/L) who entered a residential weight-loss program in Belgium, were included during summer. Subjects were randomized: Group 1 received 6,000 IU vitamin D daily for 12 weeks, whereas Group 2 simultaneously participating in the weight-loss program received no supplementation. Differences in vitamin D levels, weight, insulin resistance, lipid patterns, and blood pressure after 12 weeks were assessed.

Results

A total of 42 subjects (12–18 years) with hypovitaminosis D were included, group 1 (n=22) received supplementation after randomization. After 12 weeks, a median increase in vitamin D levels of 28.2 (24.1–33.0) and 6.7 (4.1–8.4) µg/L was observed in group 1 and group 2, respectively (p-value<0.001), resulting in vitamin D sufficiency in 100 and 60% of subjects. No significant differences in weight loss (p-value 0.695), insulin resistance (p-value 0.078), lipid patterns (p-value 0.438), or blood pressure (p-value 0.511) were observed between both groups after 12 weeks of treatment.

Conclusions

Supplementation with 6,000 IU vitamin D daily during 12 weeks in children and adolescents with obesity and hypovitaminosis D is safe and sufficient to reach vitamin D sufficiency. However, no positive effects on weight loss, insulin resistance, lipid patterns, or blood pressure were observed.

Keywords: children; obesity; vitamin D; weight loss program

Corresponding author: Sarah Deruyter, Department of Pediatrics, Ghent University, C. Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Gent, Belgium, Phone: 093321279, Fax: 093325591, E-mail: Sarah.Deruyter@uzgent.be

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to sincerely thank all participants, parents, and members of the “Zeepreventorium” team for their input into the study. We would also like to thank the University Hospital Ghent to provide the academic guidance in writing this article.

Research funding: None declared.
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Competing interests: Authors state no conflict of interest.
Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study.
Ethical approval: The Ethics Committee of the University Hospital Ghent approved this study (BC-07301).

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Received: 2022-11-25

Accepted: 2023-02-20

Published Online: 2023-03-13

Published in Print: 2023-05-25

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jpem-2022-0598

Keywords for this article

children; obesity; vitamin D; weight loss program