Vitamin D & Belly Fat

Belly fat can be caused by a number of factors, including lack of exercise and eating too many fatty foods. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating that more than two-thirds of Americans are overweight, it is worth checking your daily diet to see if you have a vitamin deficiency. A deficiency of vitamin D can contribute to the problem of belly fat.

Risks Associated with Belly Fat

Having a high percentage of fat around your abdomen increases your risk of developing coronary heart disease. In a 2001 study published in the "Nature" journal it was found that fat can impair the body's ability to use insulin and can lead to a higher risk of developing diabetes.

Vitamin D Deficiency

The Linus Pauling Institute states that the recommended dietary intake of vitamin D for adults is 600 IU for people aged 10 to 70 years. Older men and women need around 800 IU on a daily basis. In men, a vitamin D deficiency is more common as they get older, according to a 2009 study in the "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism." Men with a vitamin D deficiency are recommended to modify their diets to get enough of the vitamin needed for health.

Low Fat Diets and Vitamin D

A 2010 study in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that vegans were at risk of developing a deficiency in vitamin D and other nutrients including vitamin B-12, which is found primarily in meat, calcium and omega-3 fatty acids. Although vegan diets can be low in saturated fats, the low level of essential vitamins associated with them can lead to a reduced metabolism, which will slow down the body's ability to burn off fat.

Vitamin D and Exercise

A vitamin D deficiency can also contribute to belly fat by impacting how much exercise you are able to do. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, vitamin D sufficiency helps to prevent rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults, and together with calcium, vitamin D can also help to protect older adults from osteoporosis. Osteoporosis can affect your ability to be able to exercise to burn off fat. Making sure that you are consuming a diet rich in nutrients and are getting enough vitamins will help you to maintain your weight and reduce a build-up of belly fat.