Daijiworld Media Network – Qatar

Qatar, Aug 14: Vitamin D deficiency is widespread among children in Qatar, regardless of whether they have asthma or are overweight, according to a study involving 364 children aged 6 to 17 from the Middle East and North Africa region.

Researchers assessed serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels among children divided into four groups based on asthma and weight status. Vitamin D deficiency, defined as levels below 50 nmol/L, was found across all groups.

The highest prevalence was recorded among overweight or obese children without asthma at 81.1%, followed by overweight or obese children with asthma at 73.9%. Deficiency was also reported among 68.3% of normal-weight children without asthma and 66.3% of normal-weight children with asthma.

Despite these differences, researchers found no statistically significant variation in vitamin D deficiency between the groups. Vitamin D sufficiency was uncommon, ranging from just 1.1% to 6.5%.

Researchers found a significant association between higher BMI and lower vitamin D concentrations among overweight or obese children, both with and without asthma.

However, no such relationship was observed among normal-weight children. The lowest vitamin D levels overall were recorded among overweight or obese children without asthma.

After adjusting for factors including age, sex, BMI and atopy, the study found no significant independent association between asthma and vitamin D status. Researchers also found no combined effect of asthma and overweight or obesity on vitamin D levels.

The findings suggest that excess body weight may have a stronger association with vitamin D levels than asthma in the population studied.

However, researchers cautioned that the study's cross-sectional design does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship. The study also lacked information on factors such as vitamin D supplementation, sunlight exposure, season, dietary intake and physical activity.

Since the participants were recruited from paediatric clinics rather than the general population, the findings may not be directly applicable to all children.

Nevertheless, with vitamin D deficiency affecting a majority of children across all groups, the findings highlight the need to consider appropriate screening, healthy nutrition and lifestyle measures, and vitamin D supplementation when clinically advised. Further longitudinal and interventional studies are needed to better understand the relationship.