Association Between Vitamin D and Serum Ferritin with Obesity in Iraqi Population: Case Control Study

Abstract

Background: Obesity has become pandemic due to obesogenic environment (cheap calorie dense food, new technologies and changes in communities that reduce physical activity) and excessive emphasis on low fat intake resulting in excessive intake of sugar and simple carbohydrates. In addition to that many reports found that obesity is associated with vitamin D deficiency and both are areas of concern in public health. Serum ferritin as acute phase reactant also may be associated with obesity as there is subclinical inflammation in obese subjects. The study aimed to find the association between vitamin D and serum ferritin with obesity. Method: 105 obese and 83 non obese had been included in this case control study and the level of vitamin D and serum ferritin measured in both groups. Results: the results show no significant difference between the obese and non-obese groups regarding vitamin D (p=0.987) and serum ferritin level(p=0.826). conclusion: serum ferritin level and vitamin D not associated with obesity in Iraqi population.