Vit D Deficiency = Fat Legs For Young Women!

It’s hard to ignore, it really appears there is a genuine epidemic (occurrence of a disease or disorder in a population at a frequency higher than that expected in a given time period) in progress, and its not H1N1 Flu.

An excellently developed study published in the March 2010 Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found a depressingly high  59% of study subjects had too little Vitamin D in their blood (</=29 ng/ml).[1] Nearly a quarter of the group had serious deficiencies (less than 20 ng/ml) of this important vitamin. Even the sufficient (>/=30 ng/ml) was only 41% and if we were to apply the generally regarded 50ng/ml as the base line for sufficiency, the numbers would decline even further. Since Vitamin D insufficiency is linked to increased body fat, decreased muscle strength and a range of disorders, this is a serious health issue.

The 90 young women in this group aged between 16-22yrs of age had an increased level of fatty tissue when their Vit D levels were low. Abnormal levels of Vitamin D are associated with a whole spectrum of diseases, including cancer, osteoporosis and diabetes, as well as cardiovascular and autoimmune disorders.

This innovative study is the first to show a clear link between Vitamin D levels and the accumulation of fat in muscle tissue – a factor in muscle strength and overall health. Scientists have known for years that Vitamin D is essential for muscle strength. Studies in the elderly have showed bedridden patients quickly gain strength when given Vitamin D.

Vitamin  D deficiency is a condition that may  cause muscle weakness in elderly persons. Although only a few intervention studies with vitamin D have been conducted in elderly people, the available evidence indicates that vitamin D supplementation  preserves muscle strength and functional ability in high-risk groups, eg, frail, mostly homebound elderly people.[2]

Of particular note is that these young women lived in California – you would expect them to have adequate sunshine, outdoor activities and a diet rich in nutrients, a combination we have been encouraged to believe ensures we meet our Vit D manufacturing needs.

Comment

This study found an inverse relationship between Vitamin D and muscle fat. The lower the levels of Vitamin D the more fat in subjects’ muscles. Does this mean taking Vit D supplements will decrease fat – probably too early to state this unequivocally, but taking a supplement of Bio D Mulsion Forte every day makes good clinical sense for people living in the northern hemisphere, especially in the winter months. Having a periodic Vit D blood test may prove to be one of the least expensive ways of avoiding an unnecessary risk for a multitude of related diseases.

References

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[1] 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 View Abstract

[2] Janssen HC, Samson MM, Verhaar HJ. Vitamin D deficiency, muscle function, and falls in elderly people. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002 Apr;75(4):611-5. Review. View Abstract