Vitamin D status and its relationship with metabolic syndrome risk factors among adolescent girls in Boukan, Iran

Objective: To investigate vitamin D status and its association with components of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adolescent girls attending high school in Boukan, Iran during winter 2012. Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting: High schools of Boukan city, Iran. Subjects: A sample of 216 girls aged 14-17 years was selected by multistage random sampling from four districts of Boukan. Weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure, daily energy intake, physical activity and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D), fasting blood glucose, TAG and HDL-cholesterol levels of all participants were evaluated. Serum 25(OH) D level,20 ng/ml was defined as vitamin D deficiency. Results: Mean serum 25(OH) D was 7? 26 (SD 2? 81) ng/ml and 96% of the participants had vitamin D deficiency. According to age-modified definitions of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III, MetS was diagnosed in 10? 6% of the participants. In multivariable regression analysis after adjustment for BMI, energy intake and physical activity level, serum 25(OH) D was inversely associated with fasting blood glucose (b520? 143, P50? 04). No significant relationship was found between serum 25(OH) D and other components of MetS. Conclusions: The high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency warrants national polices and interventions towards improving this major health problem among adolescent girls. Low 25(OH) D level was significantly associated with increased fasting blood glucose. Prospective studies are needed to determine the effects of vitamin D deficiency on the development of MetS and related metabolic diseases in adolescent girls.