Vitamin D status and its relationship to body fat, final height, and peak bone mass in young women.
BACKGROUND
Vitamin D insufficiency has now reached epidemic proportions and has been linked to low bone mineral density, increased risk of fracture, and obesity in adults. However, this relationship has not been well characterized in young adults.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), anthropometric measures, body fat (BF), and bone structure at the time of peak bone mass.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study. OUTCOME MEASURES AND SUBJECTS: Anthropometric measures, serum 25OHD radioimmunoassay values, and computed tomography and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry values of BF and bone structure in 90 postpubertal females, aged 16-22 yr, residing in California were measured.


RESULTS
Approximately 59% of subjects were 25OHD insufficient (<or=29 ng/ml), and 41% were sufficient (>or=30 ng/ml). Strong negative relationships were present between serum 25OHD and computed tomography measures of visceral and sc fat and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry values of BF. In addition, weight, body mass, and imaging measures of adiposity at all sites were significantly lower in women with normal serum 25OHD concentrations than women with insufficient levels. In contrast, no relationship was observed between circulating 25OHD concentrations and measures of bone mineral density at any site. Unexpectedly, there was a positive correlation between 25OHD levels and height.


CONCLUSIONS
We found that vitamin D insufficiency is associated with increased BF and decreased height but not changes in peak bone mass.
Kremer
Richard
R
Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3H 2R9.
Campbell
Patricia P
PP
Reinhardt
Timothy
T
Gilsanz
Vicente
V
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood
D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D