Hypovitaminosis D and Obesity – Coincidence or Consequence?

Abstract

Vitamin D has attracted much scientific interest in recent years, mostly due to its newly described roles in metabolism regulation and cell proliferation. Along with hypovitaminosis D, the incidence of obesity has risen and has become a public health concern. The association between these two conditions is not merely coincidence and is being deeply investigated regarding its prevalence, mechanism, and even a possible causal relation. The data are still inconclusive but there is important evidence indicating that vitamin D is involved with fat accumulation, the responsible mechanism however still the principal question. The three main hypotheses are: adipose tissue sequestration, genetic modulation, such as polymorphism of the vitamin D receptor (VDR), or an organism evolutionary adaptation to cold weather. In conclusion, more evidence is needed to determine what the correct direction of this connection is and the possible therapeutic strategies of vitamin D replenishment and obesity control.