Assessment of vitamin D among male adolescents and young adults hospitalized with eating disorders

Abstract

Plain English summary Medical complications of eating disorders in males are understudied compared to females. Little is known about vitamin D levels in male adolescents and young adults with eating disorders. We studied vitamin D levels in male and female adolescents and young adults hospitalized at the University of California, San Francisco between 2012 and 2020. We found that 44% of males had low vitamin D levels. Despite nearly half of males having low vitamin D, few were receiving calcium, vitamin D, or multivitamin supplementation prior to the hospitalization. White race, prior calcium or vitamin D supplementation, and higher calcium levels were associated with higher vitamin D levels. Medical providers should consider assessing for low vitamin D levels among males and females with eating disorders.

Keywords

• Feeding and eating disorders
• Male
• Boys
• Vitamin D
• Adolescent