Yusuf DENİZ, Erkan DOĞAN
Medical Records - 2026;8(1):1777319-1777319
Aim: To examine age-related differences in the association between vitamin D status and pediatric obesity, and to evaluate the relationship between obesity and inflammatory, hematological, and metabolic parameters. Material and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study reviewed 8,010 pediatric medical records from January 2021 to December 2022. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 1,134 children aged 10-18 years were included and classified as obese (n=482), overweight (n=155), or healthy controls (n=497). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels, complete blood count parameters, C-reactive protein (CRP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and iron-related indices were analyzed and compared between groups. Results: Gender distribution differed significantly among weight groups (chi²=60.32, p<0.001), with obesity being more prevalent in females. Children with obesity were younger than those in the overweight and healthy groups (F=21.44, p<0.001). Obesity was associated with higher white blood cell counts (F=11.49, p<0.001), elevated CRP levels (F=3.63, p<0.05), and increased ALT and AST levels (ALT: F=28.86, p<0.001; AST: F=11.76, p<0.001). Serum iron and mean corpuscular volume values were significantly lower in children with obesity (p<0.05). Mean serum vitamin D levels did not differ significantly between weight groups (F=2.94, p=0.05), and categorical vitamin D status showed no significant association with obesity (chi²=2.37, p=0.67). Conclusion: Pediatric obesity is associated with inflammatory, hematological, and hepatic alterations. In this adolescent cohort, serum vitamin D levels were not significantly associated with obesity. These findings suggest that the relationship between vitamin D status and obesity may vary by age and appear weaker during adolescence.
