BMC Pediatr. 2026 Mar 28. doi: 10.1186/s12887-026-06689-7. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and the prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity among children and adolescents, utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were extracted from the NHANES conducted between 2009 and 2018. This study included a total of 7,451 children and adolescents aged 8 to 17 years. The statistical analyses employed in this research comprised descriptive statistics, weighted linear regression, multivariate logistic regression, and restricted cubic spline analysis.
RESULTS: Significant differences in baseline characteristics were observed across the quartiles of serum 25(OH)D levels. Higher levels of 25(OH)D were associated with a greater proportion of males, younger age groups (8-12 years), non-Hispanic whites, and non-poor. Logistic regression analysis indicated that individuals in the lowest quartile of 25(OH)D levels faced a higher odd of obesity (OR: 2.82, 95% CI: 2.08-3.83) and abdominal obesity (OR: 2.42, 95% CI: 1.97-2.98) after adjusting for covariates. Restricted cubic spline analysis showed a nonlinear association between serum 25(OH)D and obesity prevalence, with an inflection point near 56.51 nmol/L; this observation does not imply causality or directionality.
CONCLUSION: Lower serum levels of 25(OH)D are correlated with a higher prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity among children and adolescents. These findings underscore the need for longitudinal or intervention studies to determine whether maintaining adequate 25(OH)D levels can help lower obesity risk in this demographic.
PMID:41904476 | DOI:10.1186/s12887-026-06689-7
