Vitamin D seems to be the “it” vitamin right now. And for good reason. This vitamin is made when sunlight makes contact with our skin. And this does wonders for the human body.
However, there’s one specific use that seems more pertinent now than ever before. And that’s that a vitamin D deficiency may be a significant reason for humans accumulating large amounts of belly fat.
Through previous studies, links have become clear between vitamin D deficiency and and obesity. Now, a team of researchers has been delving deeper to understand this correlation.
Through previous studies, links have been made between vitamin D deficiency and and obesity. Now, a team of researchers has been delving deeper to understand this correlation.
Their goal? To understand how certain types of fat and their locations on the body play a role with vitamin D deficiency.
During analysis, the research team made the choice to focus on belly fat under the skin, fat around the organs, and fat in the liver. They also made adjustments for factors like ethnicity, alcohol intake, smoking, chronic disease, etc.
In their findings, the researchers made some interesting discoveries. In women, both abdominal fat and total fat had a clear association with low levels of vitamin D. However, in men, fat in the liver and abdomen had the greatest association with a vitamin D deficiency.
In both sexes, more belly fat was a clear prediction of having low levels of vitamin D.
According to Medical News Today:
Rafiq [the study’s lead researcher] explains, “[T]he strong relationship between increasing amounts of abdominal fat and lower levels of vitamin D suggests that individuals with larger waistlines are at a greater risk of developing deficiency, and should consider having their vitamin D levels checked.”
