A new study reveals that individuals with higher levels of belly fat and larger waists have lower levels of vitamin D.
Vitamin D, produced in our skin in contact with sunlight, plays numerous roles in the human body. . Over the past few months, Medical News Today has devoted a wealth of research to the group of fat-soluble secosteroids, better known as vitamin D. For example, recent studies have found that vitamin D may protect against heart failure, diabetes, and cancer, and that vitamin D deficiency causes hair loss. Vitamin D deficiency has traditionally been linked to bone health, but it may also play a role in respiratory infections and autoimmune diseases, among others.
Understanding vitamin D deficiency
As the importance of vitamin D emerges, researchers are finding out who is at risk of vitamin D deficiency. They spend more time researching who might be most at risk and methods to prevent it. The link between obesity and low vitamin D levels has been established before. As they dug a little deeper, they began to understand that the type and location of fat played a role.
A group of researchers from VU University Medical Center and Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands are investigating this issue. Led by Rachida Rafiq, they recently presented their findings at the European Society of Endocrinology Meeting in Barcelona, Spain.
The link between obesity and low vitamin D levels has been previously identified. Rafiq and the team dove a little deeper; They began to understand that the type and location of oil played a role. To do this, they took data from the Dutch Epidemiology of Obesity study, including thousands of men and women aged 45-65.
The team analyzed total fat, abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (belly fat under the skin), visceral dipose tissue (belly fat under the skin). focused on liver fat (around the organs) and liver fat (in the liver). During their analysis, they adjusted the data for potentially confounding variables such as alcohol intake, smoking, ethnicity, education level, chronic disease, and physical activity levels.
Vitamin D and visible belly fat
D of both total and abdominal fat in women They found that it was associated with low levels of vitamin A, but that belly fat had the biggest impact. However, in men, low vitamin D levels were significantly associated with fat in the liver and abdomen.
In both genders, those with significant abdominal fat were found to have lower levels of vitamin D.
Rafiq explains: “The strong association between increased amounts of abdominal fat and lower levels of vitamin D suggests that individuals with larger waists are at higher risk of developing deficiency and need to have their vitamin D levels checked.”
This is the next step. It's about understanding why the relationship exists. Does vitamin D deficiency cause fat to accumulate in the abdominal area, or does belly fat reduce vitamin D levels? As Rafiq explains, "Due to the observational nature of this study, we cannot draw any conclusions about the direction or cause of the relationship between obesity and vitamin D levels."
However, this strong relationship does not support vitamin D in abdominal fat storage and function. It may point to a possible role for (RachidaRafiq)
The links between obesity and vitamin D deficiency are getting stronger. The next issue is working on a way to address this issue effectively.
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