Correlation between serum vitamin D and anthropometric parameters in hypovitaminosis D paediatric patients attending Nizamiye Hospital, Abuja; Nigeria.

Abstract

Overall human health and wellbeing requires vitamin-D. Excess body weight is a risk factor for many somatic and psychological disorders, including non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis and several cancer types. This study determined the relationship between anthropometric parameters and serum vitamin D3 in paediatric patients with hypovitaminosis D at Nizamiye Hospital Abuja, Nigeria. A retrospective study done between January 2018 to December 2019 involving a total of 48 paediatric patients age range 8-16years. Age, weight, height, and serum vitamin D3 results were retrieved from the patients’ folders. Body Mass Index (BMI) and Ponderal Index (PI) were calculated. Data analysis was done using SPSS Version 20. The mean age of all the
patients was 12.7±2.6years. The mean age for the females and males were 12.0±2.1 and 13.4±2.8years respectively. The mean ages between the two genders as well as other anthropometric parameters were not significantly different at p>0.05. Mean serum vitamin D3 was lower in females 16.5±4.8ng/ml than males 18.8±3.5ng/ml and also of no statistical significance between the two genders at p>0.05. For all the paediatric patients combined, the negative correlation between serum vitamin D3 and weight as well as height were significant at ‘r’ and p-values of (-0.428;0.002) and (-0.391;0.006) respectively. The higher the anthropometric parameters the lower the serum vitamin D. Weight control in overweight or obese patients and vitamin D replenishment should be the ultimate therapeutic strategies in hypovitaminosis D paediatric patients.