The relationship between vitamin D level and hepatosteatosis in obese children

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The increasing incidence of obesity in children is a significant risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseand obesity-associated morbidity. In the present study, we aimed to explore the correlation between Vitamin D level andhepatosteatosis in obese children.METHODS: A total of 110 children aged 10–16 years who presented to pediatric endocrinology outpatient clinic for obesitywere enrolled. The study was completed in a single season between September and November. Hepatosteatosis was diagnosed by ultrasonography. The patients were grouped into two groups: Group 1 comprised patients with hepatosteatosis andGroup 2 consisted of patients without hepatosteatosis. 25 hydroxy (25-OH) Vitamin D levels were compared between patientswith and without hepatosteatosis.RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was observed between 25-OH Vitamin D levels of patients with and withouthepatosteatosis. When the effects of age and sex were kept constant, there was no significant correlation between VitaminD level and aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and body mass index values.CONCLUSION: Unlike the results of the previous studies, we were unable to detect any significant difference between Vitamin D levels of obese patients with and without hepatosteatosis. We think that obesity, rather than Vitamin D status, that is,in fact, independently associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Larger studies are needed to investigate the impact ofVitamin D in children with obesity with hepatosteatosis.