Is vitamin D an important factor in hepatosteatosis in childhood obesity

Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health problems with obesity-related complications such as hepatosteatosis or type 2 diabetes occurring during early childhood. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels and obesity with hepatosteatosis (HS) in children. 128 obese children participated in this study. Hepatosteatosis was diagnosed and graded using ultrasonography in all patients. Serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D, calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), parathormone (PTH), lipid, glucose and insulin were also measured. The data was analyzed across two groups of obese children – those with hepatosteatosis and those without hepatosteatosis. Forty-two percent of the study group were male. The mean age of the subjects was 12.1±3.1 years (range 4-18 years). Hepatosteatosis was identified in 39% of children (n: 50). A high prevalence (122/128 cases, 95%) of either 25-hydroxy vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency was determined. However, there was no statistically significant association between 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels and hepatosteatosis. Uric acid, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in the HS group compared to non-HS group. There is a high prevalence of 25-hydroxy vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency among children with hepatosteatosis. However, in this study, no association was observed between 25-hydroxy vitamin D deficiency and hepatosteatosis.