News
Obesity and Vitamin D
14.03.2012
The HUNT study shows connection between low levels of Vitamin D in the body and obesity years later.
The HUNT study is a Cross-Sectional and Prospective Cohort Study of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Level and Obesity in Adults. Authors: Mai XM, Chen Y, Camargo CA Jr, Langhammer A.
Experimental studies suggest that vitamin D modulates the activity of adipocytes. The authors examined baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level in relation to prevalent and cumulative incident obesity in Norway. A cohort of 25,616 adults aged 19-55 years participated in both the second and third surveys of the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT 2 (1995-1997) and HUNT 3 (2006-2008)).
Serum 25(OH)D levels measured at baseline and anthropometric measurements taken at both baseline and follow-up were available for a random sample of 2,460 subjects. Overall, 40% of the 2,460 subjects had a serum 25(OH)D level less than 50.0 nmol/L, and 37% had a level of 50.0-74.9 nmol/L. The prevalence and cumulative incidence of obesity, defined as body mass index (weight (kg)/height (m)(2)) ≥30, were 12% and 15%, respectively. Lower serum 25(OH)D level was associated with a higher prevalence of obesity.
In the 2,165 subjects with baseline BMI less than 30, a serum 25(OH)D level less than 50.0 nmol/L was associated with a significantly increased odds ratio for incident obesity during follow-up (adjusted odds ratio = 1.73, 95% confidence interval: 1.24, 2.41). When prevalent and incident obesity were classified according to waist circumference (≥88 cm for women, ≥102 cm for men), similar results were obtained. In addition to prevalent obesity, a serum 25(OH)D level less than 50.0 nmol/L was significantly associated with new-onset obesity in adults.
American Journal of Epidemiology 6 February 2012
In an interview in a Norwegian media, (Trönder Avisa 22.02.2012) one of the authors, Langhammer, points out that the intake of Vitamin D is by no way a subscription for a dietary treatment. The study revealed that low level of the Vitamin led to increased odds of being obese (11) years later.