Vitamin D status, leptin, and lipid profile in adolescents with hypothalamic dysfunction
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15574/SP.2025.7(151).1421Keywords:
vitamin D, lipid profile, leptin, hypothalamic dysfunction, obesity, risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, adolescentsAbstract
Aim - to investigate the vitamin D status, lipid profile and leptin levels in a cohort of adolescents with hypothalamic dysfunction (DH) for early identification of possible risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic disorders
Materials and methods. 246 adolescents (including 133 boys) aged 10-17 years with DH accompanied by excess body weight (BW)/obesity were examined. Body mass index, levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (ТG), high (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, leptin, atherogenic index (IA), and blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) were determined.
Results. Excess BW was found in 82 (31.0%) patients, obesity of the I degree - in 84 (32.0%) children, II degree - in 51 (19.0%) children, III degree - in 29 (11.0%) children. The indicators of 25(OH)D in the blood corresponded to the deficiency of vitamin D. The increase in the degree of obesity was accompanied by a significant increase in the leptin level and a decrease in the 25(OH)D level. The increase in the deficiency of vitamin D was associated with significantly increased levels of TС and IA and a decrease in the HDL-C level. The most significant changes in lipid fractions were observed in patients with DH and III degree of obesity, who had the lowest content of 25(OH)D in the blood.
Conclusions. The present study found the certain significant changes in some lipid fractions, namely TC, IA and HDL-C in adolescents with hypothalamic dysfunction associated with excess BW/obesity and vitamin D deficiency, which is a high risk factor for cardiovascular and metabolic disorders and requires early intervention and the introduction of preventive measures.
The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the institution mentioned in the paper. Informed consent was obtained from the children's guardians for the study.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
References
Bahadorpour S, Hajhashemy Z, Saneei P. (2022). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and dyslipidemia: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies. Nutrition reviews. 81(1): 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuac038; PMid:35831956
Bivona G, Gambino CM, Iacolino G, Ciaccio M. (2019). Vitamin D and the nervous system. Neurological research. 41(9): 827-835. https://doi.org/10.1080/01616412.2019.1622872; PMid:31142227
Brzeziński M, Jankowska A, Słomińska-Frączek M, Metelska P, Wiśniewski P et al. (2020). Long-Term Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation in Obese Children During Integrated Weight-Loss Programme-A Double Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. Nutrients, 12(4): 1093. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12041093; PMid:32326621 PMCid:PMC7230345
Calcaterra V, Fabiano V, De Silvestri A, Colombo C, Tranfaglia V, Loiodice M et al. (2024). The impact of vitamin D status on lipid profiles and atherogenic dyslipidemia markers in children and adolescents with obesity. Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases: NMCD. 34(11): 2596-2605. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2024.07.015; PMid:39168806
Chen CW, Han YY, Hwang JS, Rizzo M, Yamashita S et al. (2024). Association Between Adequate Serum 25(OH)D Levels and Atherogenic Dyslipidemia in Young Adults. Journal of atherosclerosis and thrombosis. 31(5): 524-539. https://doi.org/10.5551/jat.64523; PMid:38057082 PMCid:PMC11079497
Coelho SR, Faria JCP, Fonseca FLA, de Souza FIS, Sarni ROS. (2022). Is There an Association between Vitamin D Concentrations and Overweight in Children and Adolescents? Journal of tropical pediatrics. 68(3): fmac033. https://doi.org/10.1093/tropej/fmac033; PMid:35466380
Colak R, Anil M, Yasar F, Rahmi Bakiler A, Pirgon O et al. (2020). Metabolic disturbances and cardiovascular risk factors in obese children with vitamin D deficiency. Archives de pediatrie : organe officiel de la Societe francaise de pediatrie. 27(3): 140-145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arcped.2019.12.005; PMid:31955958
Durá-Travé T, Gallinas-Victoriano F, Peñafiel-Freire DM, Urretavizcaya-Martinez M, Moreno-González P, Chueca-Guindulain MJ. (2020). Hypovitaminosis D and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Adolescents with Severe Obesity. Children (Basel, Switzerland). 7(2): 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/children7020010; PMid:32024097 PMCid:PMC7072215
Dzik KP, Kaczor JJ. (2019). Mechanisms of vitamin D on skeletal muscle function: oxidative stress, energy metabolism and anabolic state. European journal of applied physiology. 119(4): 825-839. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04104-x; PMid:30830277 PMCid:PMC6422984
Ebeling PR, Adler RA, Jones G, Liberman UA, Mazziotti G, Minisola S et al. (2018). Management of endocrine disease: Therapeutics of Vitamin D. European journal of endocrinology. 179(5): R239-R259. https://doi.org/10.1530/EJE-18-0151; PMid:30131372
Erol M, Bostan Gayret Ö, Hamilçıkan Ş, Can E, Yiğit ÖL. (2017). Vitamin D deficiency and insulin resistance as risk factors for dyslipidemia in obese children. La deficiencia de vitamina D y la resistencia a la insulina como factores de riesgo de dislipidemia en niños obesos. Archivos argentinos de pediatria. 115(2): 133-139. https://doi.org/10.5546/aap.2017.eng.133; PMCid:PMC6250071
Fiamenghi VI, Mello ED. (2021). Vitamin D deficiency in children and adolescents with obesity: a meta-analysis. Jornal de pediatria. 97(3): 273-279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jped.2020.08.006; PMid:33022267 PMCid:PMC9432231
Guan C, Fu S, Zhen D, Li X, Niu J, Cheng J et al. (2020). Correlation of serum vitamin D with lipid profiles in middle-aged and elderly Chinese individuals. Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition. 29(4): 839-845. https://doi.org/10.6133/apjcn.202012_29(4).0020.
Habib A, Molayemat M, Habib A. (2019). Association of lipid profile and BMI Z-score in southern Iranian children and adolescents. Journal of pediatric endocrinology & metabolism : JPEM. 32(8): 827-835. https://doi.org/10.1515/jpem-2019-0002; PMid:31219798
Hajhashemy Z, Tirani SA, Askari G, Saneei P. (2025). The association between serum vitamin D levels and abnormal lipid profile in pediatrics: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies. Nutrition reviews. 83(2): e88-e105. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuae020; PMid:38568958
Holick MF. (2005). The vitamin D epidemic and its health consequences. The Journal of nutrition. 135(11): 2739S-2748S. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/135.11.2739S; PMid:16251641
Holick MF. (2017). The vitamin D deficiency pandemic: Approaches for diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Reviews in endocrine & metabolic disorders. 18(2): 153-165. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11154-017-9424-1; PMid:28516265
Holick MF, Binkley NC, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Gordon CM, Hanley DA, Heaney RP et al. (2011). Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. 96(7): 1911-1930. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2011-0385; PMid:21646368 PMCid:PMC8604301
Jiang X, Peng M, Chen S, Wu S, Zhang W. (2019). Vitamin D deficiency is associated with dyslipidemia: a cross-sectional study in 3788 subjects. Current medical research and opinion. 35(6): 1059-1063. https://doi.org/10.1080/03007995.2018.1552849; PMid:30479168
Karney A, Brągoszewska H, Soluch L, Ołtarzewski M. (2017). Developmental period medicine. 21(3): 259-265. https://doi.org/10.34763/devperiodmed.20172103.259265.
Kelishadi R, Salek S, Salek M, Hashemipour M, Movahedian M. (2014). Effects of vitamin D supplementation on insulin resistance and cardiometabolic risk factors in children with metabolic syndrome: a triple-masked controlled trial. Jornal de pediatria. 90(1): 28-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jped.2013.06.006; PMid:24140383
Khwanchuea R, Punsawad C. (2022). Associations Between Body Composition, Leptin, and Vitamin D Varied by the Body Fat Percentage in Adolescents. Frontiers in endocrinology. 13: 876231. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2022.876231; PMid:35721764 PMCid:PMC9203737
Kılıç B, Kılıç M. (2019). Evaluation of Vitamin D Levels and Response to Therapy of Childhood Migraine. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania). 55(7): 321. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina55070321; PMid:31261815 PMCid:PMC6681503
Kumar A, Estrada DF. (2019). Specificity of the Redox Complex between Cytochrome P450 24A1 and Adrenodoxin Relies on Carbon-25 Hydroxylation of Vitamin-D Substrate. Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicals. 47(9): 974-982. https://doi.org/10.1124/dmd.119.087759; PMid:31289106 PMCid:PMC7184192
Lee YA, Yoon S, Kim S, Youn YC. (2021). Association of 25-hydroxyvitamin D status with brain volume changes. Food science & nutrition. 9(8): 4169-4175. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.2382; PMid:34401068 PMCid:PMC8358372
Li J, Gao Y, Yu T, Lange JK, Le Boff MS, Gorska A et al. (2020). Obesity and leptin influence vitamin D metabolism and action in human marrow stromal cells. The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology. 198: 105564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2019.105564; PMid:31809868
Liu H, He Y, Beck J, da Silva Teixeira S, Harrison K et al. (2021). Defining vitamin D receptor expression in the brain using a novel VDRCre mouse. The Journal of comparative neurology. 529(9): 2362-2375. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.25100; PMid:33368246 PMCid:PMC8053677
Lu SC, Akanji AO. (2020). Leptin, Obesity, and Hypertension: A Review of Pathogenetic Mechanisms. Metabolic syndrome and related disorders. 18(9): 399-405. https://doi.org/10.1089/met.2020.0065; PMid:32876506
Matsunuma A, Kawane T, Maeda T, Hamada S, Horiuchi N. (2004). Leptin corrects increased gene expression of renal 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1 alpha-hydroxylase and -24-hydroxylase in leptin-deficient, ob/ob mice. Endocrinology. 145(3): 1367-1375. https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2003-1010; PMid:14657008
Mehmood ZH, Papandreou D. (2016). An Updated Mini Review of Vitamin D and Obesity: Adipogenesis and Inflammation State. Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences. 4(3): 526-532. https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2016.103; PMid:27703587 PMCid:PMC5042647
Menéndez SG, Manucha W. (2024). Vitamin D as a Modulator of Neuroinflammation: Implications for Brain Health. Current pharmaceutical design. 30(5): 323-332. https://doi.org/10.2174/0113816128281314231219113942; PMid:38303529
Olson ML, Maalouf NM, Oden JD, White PC, Hutchison MR. (2012). Vitamin D deficiency in obese children and its relationship to glucose homeostasis. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. 97(1): 279-285. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2011-1507; PMid:22072738 PMCid:PMC3251943
Pramono A, Jocken JWE, Blaak EE. (2019). Vitamin D deficiency in the aetiology of obesity-related insulin resistance. Diabetes/metabolism research and reviews. 35(5): e3146. https://doi.org/10.1002/dmrr.3146; PMid:30801902
Prono F, Bernardi K, Ferri R, Bruni O. (2022). The Role of Vitamin D in Sleep Disorders of Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review. International journal of molecular sciences. 23(3): 1430. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23031430; PMid:35163353 PMCid:PMC8835880
Roth CL, Elfers C, Kratz M, Hoofnagle AN. (2011). Vitamin d deficiency in obese children and its relationship to insulin resistance and adipokines. Journal of obesity. 2011: 495101. https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/495101; PMid:22254134 PMCid:PMC3255292
Sailike B, Onzhanova Z, Akbay B, Tokay T, Molnár F. (2024). Vitamin D in Central Nervous System: Implications for Neurological Disorders. International journal of molecular sciences. 25(14): 7809. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25147809; PMid:39063051 PMCid:PMC11277055
Savastano S, Barrea L, Savanelli MC, Nappi F, Di Somma C et al. (2017). Low vitamin D status and obesity: Role of nutritionist. Reviews in endocrine & metabolic disorders. 18(2): 215-225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11154-017-9410-7; PMid:28229265
Smotkin-Tangorra M, Purushothaman R, Gupta A, Nejati G, Anhalt H, Ten S. (2007). Prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in obese children and adolescents. Journal of pediatric endocrinology & metabolism: JPEM. 20(7): 817-823. https://doi.org/10.1515/JPEM.2007.20.7.817; PMid:17849744
Sun X, Cao ZB, Tanisawa K, Ito T, Oshima S, Ishimi Y et al. (2015). Associations between the Serum 25(OH)D Concentration and Lipid Profiles in Japanese Men. Journal of atherosclerosis and thrombosis. 22(4): 355-362. https://doi.org/10.5551/jat.26070; PMid:25346256
Surdu AM, Pînzariu O, Ciobanu DM, Negru AG, Căinap SS, Lazea C et al. (2021). Vitamin D and Its Role in the Lipid Metabolism and the Development of Atherosclerosis. Biomedicines. 9(2): 172. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9020172; PMid:33572397 PMCid:PMC7916166
Tamer G, Telci Caklili O, Gungor K, Kartal I, Sagun HG, Arik S et al. (2017). Effect of vitamin D status on lipid profile in premenopausal women: a cross-sectional study. Cardiovascular endocrinology. 6(2): 86-91. https://doi.org/10.1097/XCE.0000000000000124; PMid:31646124 PMCid:PMC6768514
Turer CB, Lin H, Flores G. (2013). Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among overweight and obese US children. Pediatrics. 131(1): e152-e161. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2012-1711; PMid:23266927
Verdoia M, Viglione F, Boggio A, Stefani D, Panarotto N, Malabaila A et al. (2022). Relationship between vitamin D and cholesterol levels in STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases: NMCD. 32(4): 957-964. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2021.11.014; PMid:35078678
Vimaleswaran KS, Berry DJ, Lu C, Tikkanen E, Pilz S, Hiraki LT et al. (2013). Causal relationship between obesity and vitamin D status: bi-directional Mendelian randomization analysis of multiple cohorts. PLoS medicine. 10(2): e1001383. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001383; PMid:23393431 PMCid:PMC3564800
Wang Y, Si S, Liu J, Wang Z, Jia H, Feng K et al. (2016). The Associations of Serum Lipids with Vitamin D Status. PloS one. 11(10): e0165157. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0165157; PMid:27768777 PMCid:PMC5074586
World Health Organization. (2017). WHO child growth standards: length/height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-length, weight-for-heigh tand body mass index-for-age: methods and development. Genewa: WHO Press: 312.
Yin K, Agrawal DK. (2014). Vitamin D and inflammatory diseases. Journal of inflammation research. 7: 69-87. https://doi.org/10.2147/JIR.S63898; PMid:24971027 PMCid:PMC4070857
Zhang LL, Lu YH, Cheng XL, Liu MY, Sun BR, Li CL. (2016). Zhonghua nei ke za zhi. 55(8): 599-603. https://doi.org/10.3760/cma.j.issn.0578-1426.2016.08.006.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Modern pediatrics. Ukraine

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
The policy of the Journal “MODERN PEDIATRICS. UKRAINE” is compatible with the vast majority of funders' of open access and self-archiving policies. The journal provides immediate open access route being convinced that everyone – not only scientists - can benefit from research results, and publishes articles exclusively under open access distribution, with a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 international license (СС BY-NC).
Authors transfer the copyright to the Journal “MODERN PEDIATRICS. UKRAINE” when the manuscript is accepted for publication. Authors declare that this manuscript has not been published nor is under simultaneous consideration for publication elsewhere. After publication, the articles become freely available on-line to the public.
Readers have the right to use, distribute, and reproduce articles in any medium, provided the articles and the journal are properly cited.
The use of published materials for commercial purposes is strongly prohibited.