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Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency and Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Metabolic Complications in Obesity: a Review

  • Metabolism (P Trayhurn, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Obese subjects are often characterized by low plasma 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25OHD) levels. Many explanations for this association have been proposed. Low plasma 25OHD is associated with obesity-related comorbidities such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and low-grade inflammation. In this review, we discuss the proposed mechanisms for low 25OHD in obesity and explore the results of recent RCTs on vitamin D (VD) supplementation on obesity and its metabolic complications such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Although the results from these clinical randomized controlled trials vary, the general picture is that VD treatment of obese individuals does not seem to be an effective treatment of obesity-related metabolic complications.

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Louise Wamberg, Steen B. Pedersen, Lars Rejnmark, and Bjørn Richelsen declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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  1. Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology MEA, Aarhus University Hospital, Tage- Hansens Gade 2, DK-8000, Aarhus, Denmark

    Louise Wamberg, Steen B. Pedersen, Lars Rejnmark & Bjørn Richelsen

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  1. Louise Wamberg
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  2. Steen B. Pedersen
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Correspondence to Louise Wamberg.

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Wamberg, L., Pedersen, S.B., Rejnmark, L. et al. Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency and Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Metabolic Complications in Obesity: a Review. Curr Obes Rep 4, 429–440 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-015-0176-5

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