October - December 2022, Volume 18, Issue 4

Virgolici B, Mohora M, Virgolici HM, Posea M, Martin RE

Hematological Indices Related to Vitamin D Deficiency in Obese Children

Acta Endo (Buc) 2022, 18 (4): 488-493
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2022.488

Introduction. Vitamin D is involved in differentiation and induction of erythropoiesis in bone marrow cells. Aim. We compared the serum 25(OH) vitamin D level in obese children versus control and found correlations between vitamin D level and hematological indices in obese children. Materials and methods. 25 overweight and obese patients and 15 normal weight children were enrolled in an observational study . Results. In obese children, the serum level of 25(OH) vitamin D was significantly (p<0.04) lower (20.60 ng/mL) compared with the value from normal weight ones (25.63 ng/mL) and the body fat percentage BFP was higher. We found a positive correlation (r=0.44, p<0.05) between serum vitamin D and hemoglobin level and a negative one between serum vitamin D and the number of platelets (r= -0.43, p<0.05). Also, the serum iron was at the lower normal limit in the obese children and negatively correlated with the percent of the body fat (r= -0,62, p<0.05). Conclusion. Obese children have vitamin D deficiency. The hemoglobin level and the number of platelets are correlated with the serum level of 25(OH) vitamin D. Supplements with vitamin D may have pleiotropic effects, including those on bone marrow activity.

Keywords: hematology, obesity, children, vitamin D.

Correspondence: Bogdana Virgolici MD, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Eroilor Sanitari blvd., Bucharest, 020021, Romania, E-mail: bogdana.virgolici@umfcd.ro