Evaluation of vitamin B12 and vitamin D levels in primary school-age children according to different body mass index percentages: Vitamins in obese children

Murat Doğan

doi:10.5281/zenodo.8408534

Authors

Murat Doğan Private Florya Hospital, Departmant of Pediatrics, İstanbul, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6292-9278

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8408534

Keywords:

Children, obesity, vitamin B12, vitamin D

Abstract

Objective: It is known that serum levels of various vitamins are low in obese children. We aimed to evaluate whether serum vitamin B12 and vitamin D levels in primary school children aged 7-12 years differ according to body mass index (BMI) percentiles and whether vitamin supplementation should be considered in cases of low vitamin levels.

Methods: The study retrospectively included 129 children admitted to our hospital. Sixty percent of the children were girls and 40% were boys. Their mean age was 8.74±4.86 years. Considering their weight percentiles, 29% of the children were above 95^th percentile and 34% were in the 50^th percentile. Weight and height were measured while the participants were wearing light clothes and without shoes. Body weight was measured using a digital scale, and BMI (kg/m²) was calculated by dividing weight in kg by the square of height in meters. Demographic and laboratory data (hemoglobin, ferritin, vitamin B12 and vitamin D) were obtained from the laboratory information management system. The results were compared statistically.

Results: The mean vitamin B12 level of children below the 95^th percentile was 383.20±162.79 ng/L, and the mean vitamin B12 level of children above the 95^th percentile was 328.75±154.59 ng/L (p=0.020). In addition, the mean vitamin D level of children below the 95^th percentile was 22.38±10.26 µg/L, and the mean vitamin D level of children above the 95^th percentile was 16.00±8.06 µg/L (p=0.001).

Conclusion: According to our study findings, vitamin B12 and vitamin D levels of children above the 95^th percentile were lower. Vitamin B12 and vitamin D levels should be measured in obese patients within the scope of preventive health services. Also, necessary vitamin supplementation should be performed upon confirmation of low levels.

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