NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People with low levels of vitamin D are more likely to accumulate fat in their abdomen and waist, exposing them to the risk of diseases like diabetes, according to a recent Dutch medical study.
The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Amsterdam and Leiden in the Netherlands and presented to the annual conference of the European Society of Endocrinology, held in Barcelona, Spain, from 19-22 May.
The researchers followed thousands of men and women between the ages of 45 and 65, watched their vitamin D levels as well as measured the concentration of total fatty tissue, subcutaneous fat, adipose tissue around organs, and liver fat.
The researchers found that the lack of vitamin D levels in the body was associated with the accumulation of total fat, abdominal fat, organs and organs in men and women.
"The study has shown that the strong relationship between increased abdominal fat and low levels of vitamin D suggests that individuals with an increase in abdominal fat should check their vitamin D levels," said Dr Rachida Rafik, head of the research team.
"The relationship between obesity and vitamin D deficiency is growing, and our next challenge is to find a way to address this issue effectively," she said.