The Relationship between Vitamin D, Inflammatory Markers, and Insulin Resistance in Children

Objective: In this study, we investigated 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D, vitamin D), inflammatory hematologic ratios such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), monocyte/HDL-C ratio (MHR) and plasma atherogenic index (PAI) and possible relationships with insulin resistance (IR) in children. Methods: A total of 210 individuals, including 96 children with IR and 114 children without IR, aged 6–18 years, who were admitted to the Pediatric Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic at Medicine Hospital, Istanbul Atlas University were included in our study. Result: Compared to patients without IR, NLR, PLR, SII, and MHR were significantly higher in patients with IR. Fasting insulin, PAI, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and HOMA-β were significantly higher and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) was considerably lower in patients with IR compared to those without IR. NLR, SII, and MHR were lower in normal vitamin D groups than the others (p < 0.001). PLR was lower in the group with normal vitamin D levels than the groups with insufficient or deficient levels of vitamin D (D < 21). Conclusions: We found that vitamin D deficiency in childhood is related to increased levels of circulating inflammatory markers (NLR, PLR, MHR, PAI), IR, and decreased insulin sensitivity. According to our results, supplementation of vitamin D may be beneficial in averting IR and enhanced systemic inflammation