ASSOCIATION OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS WITH SERUM VITAMIN D3 LEVELS IN UNDERWEIGHT FEMALE ADOLESCENTS AGED 10–20 YEARS
Keywords:
Vitamin D deficiency, Body mass index, Underweight; Female adolescents, COVID-19 pandemic, IndiaAbstract
Abstract Views: 69
Background: COVID-19 lockdowns and prolonged online schooling markedly reduced outdoor activity and sunlight exposure among adolescents, potentially increasing the risk of vitamin D deficiency. While low vitamin D levels are well documented in individuals with high body mass index (BMI), limited evidence exists regarding its association with low BMI during the pandemic. Aim: To evaluate the association of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions with serum vitamin D3 levels in female students aged 10–20 years with low body mass index (BMI)
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 144 female students and patients aged 10–20 years, recruited from a tertiary care hospital and an associated university. BMI was calculated using standard methods, and a low BMI was defined as <18.5 kg/m². Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were estimated using a Bio-Rad D10 Analyzer. Vitamin D status was classified as severely deficient (<10 ng/mL), mildly to moderately deficient (10–24 ng/mL), or optimal (25–80 ng/mL). Comparisons between the BMI groups were performed using an unpaired t-test.
Results: Fifty percent of the participants were underweight. Severe vitamin D deficiency was observed in 52.7% of the subjects, while 30.5% had mild-to-moderate deficiency. The mean serum vitamin D level was 16.93 ng/mL. Underweight participants had significantly lower vitamin D levels (13.12 ± 1.65 ng/mL) than those with a normal BMI (20.81 ± 2.80 ng/mL), with a mean difference of 7.692 ± 3.252 (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Female adolescents with low BMI demonstrated significantly reduced vitamin D3 levels following COVID-19 restrictions, highlighting the need for early screening and preventive strategies in this vulnerable population group.
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