Metabolic remodeling and the modulatory role of vitamin D deficiency in African American children and adolescents with obesity
Authors' conclusion
Obesity in African American youth is linked to widespread metabolic remodeling across amino acid, lipid, and inflammatory pathways, reflecting core features of cardiometabolic risk. Vitamin D status may also influence these responses, suggesting a potential role in modifying obesity-related risk. These findings highlight the importance of early identification and prevention strategies and point to vitamin D as a possible target for future investigation.
Study context
- Population
- African American participants aged 2–21 years, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 2002–2020; vitamin D deficiency in 86, including 62 of 309 with overweight or obesity (20%)
- Participants
- 551 participants
- Exposure
- Obesity vs no obesity; modulation by vitamin D deficiency
- Outcome
- Plasma metabolites associated with obesity
Methodological detailsmetabolomic profiling, Nightingale NMR platform
- Metabolomic profiling
- Nightingale NMR platform
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Metabolite markers and ratios significantly associated with obesity (FDR < 0.05)
- 142
- Significant overrepresentation of nominally significant interactions with vitamin D deficiency (global enrichment analysis)
- p < 2.2 × 10-¹⁶
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Metabolic remodeling and the modulatory role of vitamin D deficiency in African American children and adolescents with obesity. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 12 January 2026. doi:10.
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