{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,2]],"date-time":"2026-03-02T11:14:47Z","timestamp":1772450087398,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,1]],"date-time":"2026-03-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1772323200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Vitamin D and mean platelet volume (MPV) have been suggested as biomarkers of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults, while pediatric data remain limited. We aimed (i) to investigate associations between vitamin D and MPV with the presence and severity of pediatric OSA and (ii) to explore potential associations between vitamin D status and sleep parameters in normal-weight affected children. Methods: A total of 138 children with polysomnography-confirmed OSA and 138 age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled. All participants underwent detailed clinical, biochemical, and overnight sleep assessments. The OSA group was stratified according to disease severity. Results: Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in OSA patients (p &lt; 0.0001), while MPV, C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were significantly higher (all p &lt; 0.0001) than in the controls. Severe OSA was associated with elevated inflammation markers, higher insulin resistance, and lower vitamin D levels (all p &lt; 0.0001). Vitamin D levels were inversely associated with the Apnea\u2013Hypopnea Index (AHI) (R 0.37, adjusted r2 0.13, p &lt; 0.0001) and Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI) (R 0.36, adjusted r2 0.13, p &lt; 0.0001), even after adjustments (both p &lt; 0.0001). N1 and REM sleep were negatively associated with vitamin D in the OSA group (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively). Vitamin D deficiency was independently associated with higher odds of OSA (adjusted OR = 6.76, 95% CI: 3.97\u201311.51, p &lt; 0.0001). Similarly, OSA presence was associated with lower vitamin D levels (aOR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.06\u20131.94, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Vitamin D and MPV are associated with the presence and severity of pediatric OSA. Vitamin D levels were related to specific sleep architecture parameters, and MPV appeared to reflect inflammation associated with OSA, supporting their potential utility as biomarkers in pediatric OSA.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm15051878","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,2]],"date-time":"2026-03-02T10:24:34Z","timestamp":1772447074000},"page":"1878","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Vitamin D and Mean Platelet Volume as Biomarkers in Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Associations with Disease Severity and Sleep Parameters"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5877-3757","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anna","family":"Di Sessa","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Woman, Child, and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania \u201cLuigi Vanvitelli\u201d, 80138 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-0624-3038","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giuditta","family":"Bargiacchi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Mental Health, Physical and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania \u201cLuigi Vanvitelli\u201d, 80131 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ludovica","family":"Nucci","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Mental Health, Physical and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania \u201cLuigi Vanvitelli\u201d, 80131 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Giovanni","family":"Messina","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Experimental Medicine-Section of Human Physiology and Unit of Dietetics and Sports Medicine, University of Campania \u201cLuigi Vanvitelli\u201d, 80138 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6175-7363","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Letizia","family":"Perillo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties, University of Campania \u201cLuigi Vanvitelli\u201d, 80138 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-7388-2721","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria","family":"Esposito","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Mental Health, Physical and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania \u201cLuigi Vanvitelli\u201d, 80131 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8136-7597","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marco","family":"Carotenuto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Mental Health, Physical and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania \u201cLuigi Vanvitelli\u201d, 80131 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-9583-9203","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria","family":"Ruberto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Education and Sport Sciences, Pegaso Telematic University, 80143 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Vaienti, B., Di Blasio, M., Arcidiacono, L., Santagostini, A., Di Blasio, A., and Segu, M. 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