The role of vitamin D in our health has recently been in the news a great deal. From good bone health to physical performance, the "sunshine vitamin" is believed to contribute in numerous aspects of our physiology and health. Now, researchers have found that obese people suffer from significant deficiencies in vitamin D, and these deficiencies can result in poor calcium metabolism. The authors of the study indicate that this is a problem that is not given the level of importance that it may in fact warrant.

The study adds to the current body of research that supports the potential link between obesity and vitamin D deficiency. To arrive at their findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, researchers studied 108 obese patients (76 women, 32 men) and found that 70.4% of them suffered from inadequate vitamin D levels. Low intake of the vitamin has been implicated in the onset of osteoporosis as well as other chronic conditions. The data led the researchers to recommend that obese people increase their dietary intake of vitamin D by way of supplements.

The problem with vitamin D deficiencies in obese people can sometimes be aggravated by the use of gastric bypass surgery. While this procedure often succeeds in addressing the problem of weight gain, it can also reduce the body's ability to obtain proper nutrition, which would include vitamin D. Furthermore, vitamin deficiency problems can affect calcium regulation in the entire body. Obese people are often diagnosed with calcium regulation problems, which can also affect parathyroid functions in ways that are just beginning to be understood.

While the exact relationship between vitamin D and obesity is not completely clear, it being the classic "chicken before the egg" dilemma, experts do believe that it is obesity that leads to vitamin deficiencies, and not the other way around. The reason for this is because vitamin D is fat soluble and may be stored in the fat tissue, thus making it unavailable to the body as a nutrient. It has also been suggested that obese people spend less time outdoors, reducing their exposure to the sun.

Consequently, health experts recommend that people get enough vitamin D either through supplements or through adequate (but healthy) exposure to the sun. Before embarking on a campaign to increase your vitamin D intake, however, take the time to learn more and speak with your doctor. For more information about vitamin D supplements, visit the website for the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements.