title: The dependency of vitamin D status on body mass index, gender, age and season.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is a rapidly growing health problem in most developed countries. Excess body weight is a risk factor for many somatic and even psychological disorders, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis and several cancer types. Recently, overweight and obesity have been shown to be related to low vitamin D status.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 25(OH)D3 status was analyzed in a population of 2,126 patients registered in a Metabolic and Medical Lifestyle Management Clinic in Oslo, Norway. Seasonal variation and prevalence of vitamin D deficiency were assessed in different body mass index (BMI), sex and age categories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For both sexes and both age groups (<50 years and > or = 50 years) there was a significant decrease of serum 25(OH)D3 levels with increasing BMI. Surprisingly, not only were the 25(OH)D3 levels negatively correlated with BMI, but the serum 1,25(OH)2D3 levels were also. The seasonal variation of serum 25(OH)D3 was highest in young (<50 years) non-obese men. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was highest in individuals with BMI > or = 40, being as high as 32% among women and 46% among men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 25(OH)D3 level, as well as its seasonal variation and the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, are all dependent on BMI, and age separately. The results of the study suggest that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men with BMI > or = 40 are vitamin D deficient.
authors: Department of Radiation Biology, Rikshospitalet-Radiumhospitalet Medical Center, 0310 Oslo, Norway. zoya.lagunova@rr-research.no
authors: Zoya
authors: Z
authors: Lagunova
authors: Alina Carmen
authors: AC
authors: Porojnicu
authors: Fedon
authors: F
authors: Lindberg
authors: Sofie
authors: S
authors: Hexeberg
authors: Johan
authors: J
authors: Moan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D002112:Calcifediol