It is becoming evident that vitamin D deficiency is extremely common in conditions like diabetes, PCOS, obesity, hypertension, heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis and several other disease entities. The reason Vitamin D is vital has to do with its role as a hormone precursor. Overweight individuals are particularly deficient in vitamin D levels.
This fat soluble vitamin tends to accumulate in the fat tissue where it is useless. Additionally obese individuals, due to their larger size require higher intake of Vitamin D to maintain adequate serum levels. Hyperinsulinemia, hypertension, high levels of C-reactive protein and homocysteine which are all indicators of poor cardiovascular condition are shown to be coincident with low vitamin D levels. Studies have shown improved glucose tolerance, better insulin sensitivity, and lower risk of type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Insulin resistance is a major problem common to obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and PCOS. This situation has been shown to improve with increased vitamin D intake. During pregnancy vitamin D deficiency has been shown to increase the risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Therefore adequate intake of vitamin D supplements are essential.