Affiliations: Nutrition and Diabetes Department, Hospital Durand,
Buenos Aires, Argentina | Laboratory Division, Hospital Durand, Buenos Aires,
Argentina | Pediatric Division, Hospital Durand, Buenos Aires,
Argentina | Pharmacology Department, University of Buenos Aires,
Argentina | School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Note: [] Correspondence: Valeria Hirschler, Hospital Durand, Maipu 812 5
M, 1006 Capital Federal, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Tel.: +54 11 48090363; Fax:
+54 11 48931647; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Hypovitaminosis D has been associated with insulin resistance. The
objectives of the study was to the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D, and the
association of vitamin D concentrations with age, Tanner stage, BMI and insulin
sensitivity (HOMA-IR) in a group of healthy boys. Data were collected
cross-sectionally at an amateur rugby club in the Buenos Aires suburbs in May,
2010. BMI, waist circumference, Tanner staging, blood pressure, and levels of
glucose, lipids, and insulin were determined. 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was
measured by radioimmunoassay. One hundred and sixteen boys aged 11.3 ±
2.4 y were examined; 19 (16.4%) and 40 (34.5%) boys were overweight and obese,
respectively, per United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
52.2% of the children were at Tanner 1. Serum concentration of [25(OH)D] had a
median value of 20 ng/mL (interquartile range 18–21 ng/mL). Sixty (52.6%)
boys had insufficient [25(OH)D] ([25(OH)D > 20 but ⩽ 30 ng/mL), and 54
(46.6%) had deficient levels ([25(OH)D] < 20 ng/mL). Univariate analyses
indicated a negative significant association between [25(OH)D] and BMI (r
−0.20, P=0.03), waist circumference (r −0.23, P=0.01), HOMA-IR (r
−0.25, P=0.007), and insulin (r −0.29, P=0.002). Multiple
regression analysis showed that [25(OH)D] concentration was significantly and
inversely associated with HOMA-IR, (B=−0.8; p=0.02) adjusted for Tanner
and BMI (R^{2}= 0.35). This study demonstrated an inverse
association between [25(OH)D] and HOMA-IR in healthy boys adjusted for pubertal
development and BMI. It also showed a high prevalence of both [25(OH)D]
deficiency and insufficiency. Further research is needed on the prospective
association between vitamin D and the risk for type 2 diabetes.
