Vitamin D deficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism in pediatrics obesity

Abstract

Obesity is one of the health problems in the developing and developed countries. Obesity subjects the individuals with metabolic and endocrine disorders. It is obvious that vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency may lead to secondary hyperparathyroidism. Thus, obesity increases the risk of vitamin D deficiency. Considering the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity, it seems logical to have treatment and prevention from vitamin D deficiency. This is similar to a study in adult vitamin D deficiency related with adiposity which also demonstrates the importance of vitamin D deficiency screening in children and adolescent obesity. Vitamin D replacement can reduce many complications in childhood (skeletal disorder, secondary hyperparathyroidism) and decreases metabolic disorder and cardiovascular disease incidence in later childhood. On the other hand, calcium has a key role in weight regulation, useful in replacement therapy, but there is a need for a further study to reveal exactly the effects in children obesity or overweight.