FRIDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) — Vitamin D deficiency is
common in American children and linked with obesity and different types of
fat distribution in white and black youngsters, new research shows.
Vitamin D is found in certain foods, but humans synthesize most of the
nutrient they need via the action of sunlight on exposed skin. Supplements
can also boost levels of vitamin D.
In the study, researchers checked vitamin D levels in 237 healthy obese
and non-obese white and black children, aged 8 to 18. They found that most
of them were vitamin D deficient. Low levels of vitamin D were associated
with higher body mass index and fat levels, and lower levels of “good”
high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
Among those with vitamin D deficiency, white children were more likely
to have higher levels of fat between their internal organs (visceral
adipose tissue), while black children were more likely to have higher
