Could Vitamin Deficiency Influence Childhood Obesity

The results emerging from various studies seem to indicate that there could be a positive link between vitamin deficiency and risk of childhood obesity. Obesity has become a massive public health issue in many countries. Essentially obesity is the accumulation of excess fat tissue within the body. This happens to a point where harm could occur to the overall wellbeing of an individual.

While some would say obesity is a case of managing energy intake there are various factors which influence the overall physical state of obesity. Obesity is thought to be a complex state which is heavily influenced by behavioural, genetic and environmental factors. Research suggests for example that artificial sweeteners may influence weight gain.

Childhood obesity is also an exploding issue throughout the world. Recent data suggests that obesity currently affects 17% of American children which may affect the longevity and health into adulthood. Obesity affects risks of developing cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Excess fat tissue is considered to be inflammatory. This may be a core reason why there is an increased risk of chronic diseases in those who are obese.

For many parents monitoring the weight of their child or children is something which is part of a normal daily routine. Current research shows deficiencies in certain essential micronutrients could influence whether or not a child develops obesity in childhood. Various researchers in the field of obesity also suggest that childhood is a golden age in terms of obesity prevention in later life.

Here the recent evidence showing that vitamin deficiency could influence risks of childhood obesity will be considered.

Obesity And Vitamin Deficiencies

Vitamin deficiencies could worsen certain conditions which makes actual nutrient intake something that people with obesity should be concerned about. This includes essential vitamins and minerals. Some studies show that most vitamins are deficient in obese individuals. This may have detrimental effects on the metabolism of the body.

Many individuals with obesity are very deficient in crucial vitamins such as vitamin C and vitamin B12. Vitamin C is very important in supporting the immune response and overall antioxidant status of the body. Research suggests there are strong links between vitamin C deficiency and BMI. Vitamin B12 is absolutely essential for proper energy metabolism and also DNA production. Folic acid is also an essential vitamin which many obese individuals are deficient in. This vitamin supports optimal mitochondrial health and so supports highly functional energy generation within the body.

Body antioxidant status supports low levels of systemic inflammation. Smooth energy production ensures there is a highly functional metabolic rate within the body with minimal oxidative stress or inflammation. Both systemic inflammation and dysfunctional energy metabolism are serious issues which some people who suffer from obesity face every day.

These are just some of the essential vitamins the body needs to function optimally on a day to day basis. This really highlights why vitamin status is something which individuals with obesity need to be concerned about.

How Vitamin Deficiency And Childhood Obesity May Be Linked

Many studies have looked into great detail as to how certain vitamins may influence incidence of obesity in childhood. One very large study analysing data from around 3600 children or adolescents from 6 to 19 years found that certain vitamins were deficient in many of the obese children.

Vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B12 and vitamin D produced a very significant reduction in risk of childhood obesity. The children and adolescents who were not obese had higher amounts of these vitamins in comparison. These vitamins were also linked with more positive HDL or high density lipoprotein levels in the children.

Energy Production Supportive Vitamins And Childhood Obesity

Vitamins B1, B2 and B12 are all supportive of optimal energy production which may be a decisive factor in developing obesity. Metabolic dysfunction is an issue in many people who suffer from obesity with excess fat tissue considered to be pro inflammatory.

Not only is fat tissue considered to be inflammatory or detrimental for systemic oxidative stress but a deficiency in B complex vitamins could further drive oxidative stress related metabolic dysfunctions. Metabolic dysfunctions in our mitochondria from systemic oxidative stress could lead to a further deposition and accumulation of body fat tissues in a vicious cycle.

The study associated deficiency in vitamin B12 as one of the strongest factors for risk of developing childhood obesity. Vitamin B2 was also strongly linked to reduced obesity risk. Vitamin B2 or riboflavin levels are strongly linked with systemic inflammation originating in fat tissues and also metabolic disorders. This is especially the case in obese individuals.

Vitamin A is also very important for optimal growth and metabolism. This fat soluble vitamin is also an important oxidative stress and inflammation reducing antioxidant within the body. Other studies have linked vitamin A deficiency as something which may consistently affect obese individuals.

Vitamin D And Childhood Obesity

The study also heavily associated vitamin D deficiency with increased risk of childhood or adolescent obesity. Lower levels of this vitamin were found in children with obesity.

Individuals with lower levels of vitamin D also seem to have higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol. This is a hormone usually released under stressful conditions by the body. Unusual levels of cortisol are associated with fat deposition and metabolic dysfunction. Taking a vitamin D supplement has been suggested to be able to lower cortisol levels slightly. Considering this study associated low vitamin D with obesity this could also be a decisive factor in childhood obesity.

Other studies have also found that children with obesity have lower vitamin D levels. Some researchers suggest that risk of vitamin D deficiency is 35% higher in obese individuals and this was irrespective of age. Other researchers have also confirmed that this sort of risk of vitamin D deficiency also occurs in children who are obese. There are also suggestions that addressing vitamin D deficiency could reverse some of the risks of developing obesity.

Interestingly vitamin D deficiency has also been associated with metabolic syndrome in obese individuals. There is also an association between vitamin D levels and cardiovascular disease risk. The research linking vitamin D deficiency with obesity does certainly seem to be endless.

This study shows that children who do not suffer from multiple vitamin deficiencies could have much less risk of obesity than those who have vitamin deficiencies. The results suggest childhood interventions for addressing vitamin intake deficiencies with obesity should take a multi vitamin approach rather than just addressing single vitamin deficiencies.

Overall the research shows that the levels of certain vitamins could be influential on the risks of developing obesity in childhood.

Summary

Various studies support links between lack of nutrition or vitamin deficiency and the risks of obesity. Childhood obesity rates are an emerging issue globally with 17% of American children thought to be obese. Childhood is considered to be a golden age which could heavily influence the risks of obesity in later life.

Many individuals who are obese are also deficient in various vitamins. Studies show that people who are obese are deficient in important B vitamins such as folic acid and B12 which support healthy metabolic functioning. Other vitamins of concern could include antioxidants such as vitamin C. Systemic inflammation and metabolic dysfunctions are often identified in people who are obese.

One study supports addressing deficiencies in vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B12 and vitamin D when looking to reduce risks of obesity. Deficiencies in these vitamins were found to be significantly different between children and adolescents who were obese compared to those who were not.

Many of these vitamins are supportive of optimal energy production or metabolism. This could be a decisive factor in the development of obesity. While vitamin A is also involved in our metabolism this vitamin is also a very important systemic antioxidant and may curve off systemic inflammation. Vitamin B2 deficiency was very strongly linked to obesity risk and is also linked to systemic inflammation especially in obese individuals. Vitamin D deficiency is also strongly associated with fat deposition via cortisol.

Overall the research shows that children who are obese could be deficient in various vitamins which support optimal energy production and this may increase their risks of developing obesity. A multi vitamin approach to nutrient deficiency may reduce risks of obesity in childhood.

For more interesting articles see the main articles page.