Vitamin D, Low-Grade Inflammation and Cardiovascular Risk in Young Children: A Pilot Study.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-2015
Identifier
DOI: 10.1007/s00246-015-1162-0
Abstract
Vitamin D has anti-inflammatory properties, and deficiency is prevalent in children. There is a paucity of data regarding vitamin D status and its correlation with low-grade inflammation and vasculature. We prospectively enrolled 25 children, 9-11 years old (13 male); 21 obese. Eight atherosclerosis-promoting risk factors were scored as categorical variables with the following thresholds defining abnormality: body mass index Z score ≥ 1.5; systolic blood pressure ≥ 95th percentile (for age, sex, and height); triglyceride ≥ 100 mg/dL; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥ 110 mg/dL; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≤ 45 mg/dL; hemoglobin A1C (HBA1C) ≥ 5.5; 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) D] ≤ 30 ng/mL, and tobacco smoke exposure. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was measured to assess low-grade inflammation and classified as low- (/L), average- (1-3 mg/L), and high-risk (>3 to/L) groups. The proportion of children within each hsCRP group who had above threshold risk factors was calculated. Carotid artery ultrasound was performed to measure carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT). Median (range) for 25(OH) D was 24 (17-45) ng/mL. Eighteen were either 25 (OH) D deficient (/mL) or insufficient (20-30 ng/mL), and seven were sufficient (>30 ng/mL). hsCRP was 1.7 (0.2-9.1) mg/L, with 11 being3.0 to < 10.0 mg/L. Risk factor score was 3.9 ± 1.7 out of eight. 25(OH) D levels did not correlate with hsCRP or CIMT. While vitamin D deficiency, inflammation, and risk factors coexist at a very young age, causative mechanisms remain unclear.
Journal Title
Pediatric cardiology
Volume
36
Issue
7
First Page
1338
Last Page
1343
MeSH Keywords
Atherosclerosis; Body Mass Index; C-Reactive Protein; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Child; Cholesterol, LDL; Female; Glycated Hemoglobin A; Humans; Inflammation; Lipoproteins, HDL; Male; Obesity; Pilot Projects; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Triglycerides; Ultrasonography; Vitamin D; Vitamin D Deficiency
Keywords
CIMT; Obesity; Pediatrics; Risk factors; Vitamin D; hsCRP
Recommended Citation
Singh J, Merrill ED, Sandesara PB, Schoeneberg L, Dai H, Raghuveer G. Vitamin D, Low-Grade Inflammation and Cardiovascular Risk in Young Children: A Pilot Study. Pediatr Cardiol. 2015;36(7):1338-1343. doi:10.1007/s00246-015-1162-0
