Vitamin Plays a Role in Fat Deposition

By CP Staff

Recent research has found that a deficiency in a particular fat-soluble vitamin is associated with increased fat deposition in muscle tissue. Previous research has shown that increased adipose (fat) infiltration of muscle is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and insulin resistance.

In this new study, researchers investigated the potential relationship between vitamin D levels and fat deposition in 90 healthy women 16 to 22 years of age. The women were evaluated using computed tomography (CT) to evaluate the amount of body fat, muscle mass and the percentage of fat in the muscle tissue. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were also measured.

The study showed 59 percent of the women had insufficient 25-hydroxy D3 levels, which were 29 ng/ml or less, including 24 percent with vitamin D deficiency with levels at or below 20 ng/ml. Only 41 percent of the subjects had sufficient serum vitamin D levels of 30 ng/ml or higher.

The results showed that as levels of vitamin D decreased, the percentage of fat in the muscle increased significantly. The women with normal levels of serum vitamin D had significantly less deposition of fat in the muscle tissue compared to the women with insufficient or deficient vitamin D levels. In addition, the data showed that the increase in muscle fat was not related to total body mass, subcutaneous fat (fat below the skin) or visceral fat (fat around the abdominal organs).

The study authors concluded, “We found that vitamin D insufficiency is associated with increased fat infiltration in muscle in healthy young women.”

Reference: Gilsanz V, Kremer A, Mo AO, Wren TA, Kremer R. Vitamin D Status and Its Relation to Muscle Mass and Muscle Fat in Young Women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Feb 17. Published Online Ahead of Print.