title: Role of vitamin D in children with hepatosteatosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The increasing incidence of obesity in children is a significant risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and obesity-associated morbidity. Vitamin D has a major role in bone mineral metabolism and has antimicrobial, antioxidant properties. In this study we aimed to investigate the role of vitamin D in children with obesity with hepatosteatosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 101 children with obesity were included in this study. Hepatosteatosis was diagnosed and graded using ultrasonography. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-(OH) vitamin D), calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, and parathormone were tested. Two-sided t test and Pearson χ tests were used for the relation between vitamin D and hepatosteatosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our study group, 45.5% were girls (n=46) and the mean age was 11.5 ± 2.8 years (range 3-17 years). Hepatosteatosis was identified in 58 children (57.4%). The diagnosis of grade 1 and grade 2 hepatosteatosis was made in 41 (40.6%) and 17 (16.8%) children, respectively. Median serum 25-(OH) vitamin D levels in children without hepatosteatosis was 16.4 ng/mL (interquartile range 12.4-24.8 ng/mL), whereas children with grade 1 and grade 2 hepatosteatosis had 25-(OH) vitamin D levels of 14.2 ng/mL (interquartile range 9.5-21.2 ng/mL) and 11.5 ng/mL (interquartile range 7.5-16.7 ng/mL), respectively (P=0.005). There was a positive correlation between insulin resistance and the grade of hepatosteatosis (P=0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum vitamin D levels in children with obesity with hepatosteatosis are significantly lower than vitamin D levels in children with obesity without hepatosteatosis. In this observational study we only refer to the association of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency with hepatosteatosis.
authors.affiliation: *Division of Ambulatory Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics †Division of Pediatric Radiology, Department of Radiology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul ‡Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak §Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Pediatrics ||Department of Biochemistry, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine ¶Department of Social Pediatrics, Institute of Child Health #Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Oguz B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Erol
authors.forename: Sadik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toprak
authors.forename: Mustafa S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cantez
authors.forename: Beyhan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Omer
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kilic
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oguz
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uysalol
authors.forename: Ensar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yekeler
authors.forename: Emin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Unuvar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C460111:PHO1 protein, Arabidopsis; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium