Researchers report widespread vitamin D deficiency in children living in Qatar, finding low levels across weight and asthma groups and a clear link between higher body mass index (BMI) and lower vitamin D in overweight children. The cross-sectional study measured serum 25‑hydroxyvitamin D in 364 children aged 6–17 from the Middle East and North Africa region who were residing in Qatar. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as levels below 50 nmol/L.
Deficiency was common in every group: 81.1% of children with overweight or obesity and no asthma, 73.9% of those with overweight or obesity and asthma, 68.3% of normal‑weight children without asthma, and 66.3% of normal‑weight children with asthma. Vitamin D sufficiency was rare, affecting only 1.1% to 6.5% of participants depending on the group. Despite the numeric differences, the authors report no statistically significant variation in deficiency prevalence between the four groups.
When BMI was examined as a continuous variable, a clearer pattern emerged among children with overweight or obesity. Higher BMI correlated significantly with lower serum vitamin D concentrations in both children with asthma and those without. No significant association between BMI and vitamin D was observed among normal‑weight children. Overall, the lowest vitamin D concentrations were seen in the overweight/obese children without asthma.
In multivariable analyses that adjusted for age, sex, BMI and atopy, asthma status was not independently associated with vitamin D levels. The researchers also found no evidence that asthma and overweight or obesity interacted to produce a combined effect on vitamin D status.
The authors caution that the study’s cross‑sectional design prevents conclusions about causation or whether changes in weight would change vitamin D levels. Interpretation is further limited by missing data on vitamin D supplementation, sunlight exposure and season, dietary intake, physical activity, and by recruitment from pediatric clinics rather than a community sample, which may limit generalizability.
Given the high prevalence of deficiency across groups, the study supports consideration of screening, lifestyle and dietary measures, and vitamin D supplementation when clinically indicated, while calling for longitudinal and interventional studies to confirm these findings. Reference: Ahmed LHM et al., Vitamin D Deficiency in Children with Asthma and Overweight/Obesity in Qatar. J Asthma Allergy. 2026;19:594510.
Original Source: https://www.emjreviews.com/respiratory/news/vitamin-d-deficiency-affects-most-children-in-new-study/
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Publish Date: 2026-08-14 01:59:00
