Vitamin D deficiency is associated with atherosclerosis-promoting risk factor clustering but not vascular damage in children.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-2012
Identifier
DOI: 10.12659/msm.883593; PMCID: PMC3560812
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Vitamin D has been associated with multiple cardiometabolic risk factors in children but there is a paucity of studies examining its correlation to vascular function and structure. Our objective was to determine whether there is a correlation between vitamin D, cardiometabolic risk, vascular distensibility and carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) in high-risk children.
MATERIAL/METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, cohort study that compared vitamin D to cardiometabolic risk factors, carotid artery distensibility, and CIMT in 74 children with multiple, modifiable atherosclerosis-promoting risk factors. Vitamin D was used as a continuous variable and also categorized as deficient (/mL) or sufficient (≥20 ng/mL). Seven modifiable atherosclerosis-promoting risk factors were analyzed - body mass index, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting insulin, & tobacco smoke exposure history.
RESULTS: For the entire cohort, vitamin D was 26.1 ± 9.4 ng/mL (6-63 ng/mL); and the levels were deficient in 20%. The number of modifiable atherosclerosis promoting risk factors per child was 3.3 ± 1.6. Distensibility index was 2.62 ± 0.87% per 10 mmHg, CIMT 0.54 ± 0.06 mm. There was an inverse correlation between vitamin D and risk factor score (r=-0.27, p=0.02); this remained significant after adjusting for age, sex, and race. There was no association between vitamin D levels and distensibility index or CIMT.
CONCLUSIONS: Even though vitamin D levels were inversely correlated with cardiometabolic risk factor score in high-risk children, there are no demonstrable vascular functional or structural effects.
Journal Title
Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research
Volume
18
Issue
12
First Page
687
Last Page
692
MeSH Keywords
Adolescent; Atherosclerosis; Carotid Arteries; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Child; Demography; Female; Humans; Male; Missouri; Risk Factors; Vitamin D; Vitamin D Deficiency
Keywords
Atherosclerosis; Carotid Arteries; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Demography; Risk Factors; Vitamin D; Vitamin D Deficiency
Recommended Citation
Cheraghi, N., Dai, H., Raghuveer, G. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with atherosclerosis-promoting risk factor clustering but not vascular damage in children. Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research 18, 687-692 (2012).
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