title: Vitamin D status and its association with adiposity and oxidative stress in schoolchildren.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level and its association with adiposity, inflammation, and oxidative stress in schoolchildren.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1488 schoolchildren ages 7 to 11 y were recruited in Harbin, China (latitude: 44°04'N-46°40'N) in May. Serum 25(OH)D, which is an indicator of vitamin D status, was determined. Anthropometric data were collected following general physical examinations. Serum lipids, glucose metabolism indices, inflammatory molecules, and oxidative stress markers were determined. Dietary intake and physical activity also were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median serum 25(OH)D concentration was 18.4 ng/mL. Of the 1488 schoolchildren included, 839 (56.4%) had vitamin D deficiency [25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL]. Children in the vitamin D deficiency group had significantly higher body weight (34.1 ± 3.8 versus 31.5 ± 3.3 kg; P < 0.001), body mass index (18.4 ± 2.2 versus 16.8 ± 1.7 kg/m(2); P < 0.001), waist circumference (60.1 ± 8.5 versus 57.2 ± 7.7 cm; P < 0.001), percentage of body fat (20.2% ± 2.6% versus 19.1% ± 2.4%; P < 0.001), and significantly lower concentrations of serum superoxide dismutase (95.38 ± 12.22 versus 127.62 ± 15.98 U/mL; P < 0.001) compared with those in the vitamin D sufficiency group. After adjusting for sex, age, body mass index, and percentage of body fat, a positive association between serum 25(OH)D and superoxide dismutase was found (β = 0.230; P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin D deficiency is common in Harbin schoolchildren. Serum 25(OH)D is closely associated with adiposity and superoxide dismutase in schoolchildren, suggesting that vitamin D deficiency potentially increases the risk for diseases caused by higher adiposity and oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Hua-qi
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China; Institute for Tuberculosis Control and Prevention of Harbin, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Jian-hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-xia
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.
authors.forename: Yong-han
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China. Electronic address: Sun2002changhao@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Chang-hao
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D050154:Adiposity; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D015995:Prevalence; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
keywords: Adiposity; Schoolchildren; Superoxide dismutase; Vitamin D deficiency