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Relationship between vitamin D status, body composition and physical exercise of adolescent girls in Beijing

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Abstract

Summary

Little is known about the prevalence of actual vitamin D deficiency in healthy school-aged adolescents, particularly in China. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D and to identify whether there was any association between vitamin D status, body composition and physical exercise in 323 Chinese adolescent girls in Beijing, China (40°N).

Introduction

It is well recognized that persistent severe vitamin D deficiency is associated with the bone abnormalities of rickets and osteomalacia. However, there is now evidence suggesting that low vitamin D status, not previously considered to be a state of deficiency is associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism, increased bone remodelling and other clinical signs thought only to be found in severe vitamin D deficiency. Hypovitaminosis D in healthy children and adolescents has been reported frequently in many countries, especially in winter.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 323 Chinese adolescent girls in Beijing in winter. Mean age of the subjects was 15.0 (±0.4) years. About 32.8%, 68.4% and 89.2% of the subjects were at risk of vitamin D deficiency when defined as plasma concentrations of 25(OH)D of 25, 37.5 or 50 nmol/L, respectively.

Results

This cross-sectional analysis of 323 Chinese adolescent girls in Beijing in winter showed that hypovitaminosis D was common in these subjects. In addition, body mass index, milk intake, participation in organized sports and total physical activity were all significant independent determinants of vitamin D status. An inverse association was found between plasma 25(OH)D and intact-parathyroid hormone (iPTH) concentration. Body mass index (BMI), milk intake, participation in organized sports and total physical activity all emerged as major independent determinants of vitamin D status as assessed by plasma 25(OH)D concentration. Vitamin D status was positively associated with lean body mass (LBM), but there was no association with the degree of body adiposity. Regardless of the concentration of 25(OH)D in blood used to define vitamin D deficiency, hypovitaminosis D was common in these subjects.

Conclusion

It is recommended that policies be developed to prevent vitamin D deficiency in adolescent girls. Further studies are needed to identify the mechanisms whereby vitamin D status is related to exercise and to body composition during growth.

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Abbreviations

25(OH)D:

25-hydroxyvitamin D

iPTH:

intact-parathyroid hormone

DXA:

dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

BMI:

body mass index

LBM:

lean body mass

FBM:

fat body mass

CNS:

Chinese Nutrition Society

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to all our colleagues from the National Institute of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, China CDC, Beijing Xicheng Student Health Institute, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hospital No. 304 and school principals and school nurses for their full co-operation throughout the fieldwork data collection and biochemical analyses. LH Foo is the recipient of PhD scholarship from the University Science Malaysia through its Academic Staff Training Scheme (ASTS) Fellowship programme.

Funding

This follow-up study was supported by the Nestlé Foundation and Danone China.

Conflicts of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    L. H. Foo, Q. Zhang, K. Zhu, A. Trube, H. Greenfield & D. R. Fraser

  2. National Institute for Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Beijing, China

    G. Ma

  3. School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia

    L. H. Foo

  4. Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Australia

    K. Zhu

Authors
  1. L. H. Foo
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  2. Q. Zhang
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  3. K. Zhu
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  4. G. Ma
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  5. A. Trube
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  6. H. Greenfield
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  7. D. R. Fraser
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Correspondence to L. H. Foo.

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Foo, L.H., Zhang, Q., Zhu, K. et al. Relationship between vitamin D status, body composition and physical exercise of adolescent girls in Beijing. Osteoporos Int 20, 417–425 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-008-0667-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-008-0667-2

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