Association of vitamin D with adiposity measures and other determinants in a cross-sectional study of Cypriot adolescents

Objective To assess vitamin D status among Cypriot adolescents and investigate potential determinants including BMI and body fat percentage (BF%). Design Participants had cross-sectional assessments of serum vitamin D, physical activity, dietary vitamin D intake and sun exposure. Linear and logistic regression models were used to explore the associations of vitamin D with potential predictors. Setting Hospitals, Cyprus, November 2007–May 2008. Subjects Adolescents ( n 671) aged 16–18 years. Results Mean serum vitamin D was 22·90 ( sd 6·41) ng/ml. Only one in ten children had sufficient levels of vitamin D (≥30 ng/ml), while the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (12–20 ng/ml) and severe deficiency ( Conclusions Vitamin D deficiency in adolescence is very prevalent in sunny Cyprus, particularly among females, those with darker skin and those with reduced sun exposure in winter. Furthermore, vitamin D status appears to have a U-shaped association with adiposity measures.