EC Paediatrics

Research Article Volume 14 Issue 7 - 2025

The Interrelationships of Vitamin D, Inflammation and Obesity in a Middle Eastern Population - A Pilot Study

Wafaa F Abusudah1,2, Oyonumo E Ntekim1, Allan A Johnson1, Sanaz Dabiri3, Julius Ngwa4 and Thomas V Fungwe1*

1Department of Nutritional Sciences, Howard University, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
 2Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
3Department of Psychology, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA
4Department of Cardiology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA

*Corresponding Author: Thomas V Fungwe, Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA.
Received: May 02, 2025; Published: June 12, 2025




Background: The prevalence of obesity and its health implications have risen to undesirable levels across genders and ages worldwide. Genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors are known to influence the development of obesity. Vitamin D deficiency is also linked to central obesity, which has public health implications.

Objectives: The study was conducted to determine the relationship between obesity, and inflammation on Vitamin D levels.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using sixty subjects, aged 19-65. Informed consent was obtained to access their medical records for Vitamin D levels, body mass index (BMI) and socio-demographic data. The inflammatory cytokines associated with obesity, Tumor necrosis factor-alfa (TNF-α), Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP), were measured.

Results: A significant association between IL-6 (β = -3.12, SE = 1.39, P = 0.031), TNF-ᾳ (β = 5.64, SE = 2.18, P = 0.014), and CRP (β = -0.32, SE = 0.14, P = 0.031) with Vitamin D was observed, after adjusting for demographics. The correlation of IL-6, CRP and Vitamin D was significant irrespective of age or gender. Dietary intake of cod liver or fish oil contributed significantly to Vitamin D sufficiency.

Conclusion: In this study, inflammatory markers TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP were significantly associated with Vitamin D levels. Dietary intake was also significantly associated with Vitamin D levels. Obesity was associated with increased levels of inflammatory markers TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP. Furthermore, the findings of this study suggest that intake of cod liver or fish oil significantly improved blood Vitamin D levels, especially in obese subjects.

 Keywords: Vitamin D Deficiency; 25-Hydroxyvitamin D; Obesity; Inflammation Markers; Tumor Necrosis Factor-α; Interleuki

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Thomas V Fungwe., et al. "The Interrelationships of Vitamin D, Inflammation and Obesity in a Middle Eastern Population - A Pilot Study". EC Paediatrics 14.6 (2025): 01-12.

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