The Relationship of Vitamin D Status with Body Mass Index among Obese Adults

Aim: In this study, we aimed to determine vitamin D levels among obese adults and to investigate its relationship with body mass index (BMI). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of obese adult patients who were admitted to Haskoy Family Medicine outpatient clinics at Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital between November 2011 and February 2012. The subjects were classified according to their BMI as overweight, obese, and morbid obese. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25-(OH) D) below 10 ng/ml, insufficiency as 25-(OH) D 10 to 20 ng/ml, and normal vitamin D level as > 20 ng/ml. Results: A total of 270 patients (117 male and 153 female) were included in the study. The mean age of study population was 46.21 +/- 12.99 years. Vitamin D deficiency was found in 37% and insufficiency in 50% of all patients. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were more common in female patients than in males. Serum 25-(OH) D levels were inversely related to BMI.. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are highly prevalent in overweight and obese adults, especially in females and, serum 25-(OH) D levels were inversely associated with BMI. Regulation of vitamin D supplementation would be a rational approach in obese patients.