Background and aim: Childhood obesity is associated with vitamin D (VD) deficiency and vascular dysfunction. Considering evidence indicates that VD may improve vascular function, this study, for the first time, assessed the effect of VD supplementation on microvascular reactivity in obese adolescents (OA).
Methods and results: This randomized controlled trial included 26 OA, receiving fruit juice with (n = 13) or without VD (4000 IU/d; n = 13) over a 3-month lifestyle program, as well as 23 normal-weight adolescents (controls). The primary outcome was the pre-to-post-program change in microvascular reactivity determined by laser speckle contrast imaging with acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside iontophoresis. Changes in 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), flow-mediated dilation (FMD), nitrate-mediated dilation (NMD), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein [CRP]) were monitored. At inclusion, in comparison to controls, OA exhibited lower total and free 25(OH)D, impaired microvascular responses, and impaired FMD, but similar NMD. After the lifestyle program, total and free 25(OH)D increased in all OA, with a greater increase in those receiving VD supplements. HOMA-IR and CRP decreased in all OA. Neither FMD nor NMD were altered in either group. Endothelium-dependent microvascular reactivity only increased in the VD-supplemented group, reaching values comparable to that of controls. Similar results were found when analyzing only OA with a VD deficiency at baseline.
Conclusion: VD supplementation during a lifestyle program attenuated microvascular dysfunction in OA without altering macrovascular function.
Registration number for clinical trial: NCT02400151.
Keywords: Obese adolescents; Vascular function; Vitamin D.
Copyright © 2021 The Italian Diabetes Society, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.