Obese women have greater adipose stores of vitamin D

(HealthDay)—Obese women have significantly greater total vitamin D stores than normal-weight women, although the pattern of distribution of the stores is similar, according to a study published online Aug. 20 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.

Angela Carrelli, M.D., from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, and colleagues examined whether the correlation between body composition, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D), vitamin D in subcutaneous (SQ) and omental (OM) adipose, and total adipose stores of vitamin D varied for obese women and normal-weight controls. The authors enrolled obese women undergoing bariatric surgery and normal-weight women undergoing abdominal surgery for benign gynecologic conditions (36 women in total).

The researchers found that serum 25(OH)D was similar between the groups, and there was no significant between-group difference in adipose vitamin D concentrations in either SQ or OM compartments. Vitamin D distribution between SQ and OM compartments was similar between the groups. There was a direct correlation between serum 25(OH)D and adipose vitamin D in both groups. Obese women had significantly greater total body vitamin D stores.

"Our data demonstrate that obese subjects have greater adipose stores of vitamin D," the authors write. "They support the hypotheses that the enlarged adipose mass in obese individuals serves as a reservoir for vitamin D, and that the increased amount of vitamin D required to saturate this depot may predispose obese individuals to inadequate serum 25(OH)D."