The Three Way Link Between Vitamin D, the Gut, and Metabolic Syndrome
Vitamin D has been linked to maintaining many important functions within the body such as maintaining cell reproduction, immune system regulation, and maintaining minerals like calcium and phosphorus. Metabolic syndrome is a condition characterized by high fat percentage in the body, high sugar levels, and high blood pressure. These are also characteristics of the disease of obesity. Researchers have been trying to find a connection between the intake of Vitamin D and the rate of metabolic syndrome to be able to explain the prevalence of low vitamin D and high rates of metabolic syndrome. The gut microbiome acts as the mediator in explaining the connections between vitamin D and metabolic syndrome.
Studies that were done through reviews and meta-analyses, which are reviews of many studies, show that there is a strong association between vitamin D intake and metabolic syndrome. A study from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey revealed that, in Americans, the risk of metabolic syndrome was three times more likely when 25(OH)D, an active form of Vitamin D, levels were lower. From another study done by PORMETSYN, there was an inverse relationship between 25(OH)D and elevated blood pressure, indicating that vitamin D helps decrease risk factors for metabolic disease. Lastly, in another study that was based on a meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies, increasing the intake of vitamin D resulted in a 19% lower risk of metabolic syndrome. Overall, these studies all indicate that increased vitamin D intake will decrease risk factors that are associated with metabolic syndrome.
Studies that were done through reviews and meta-analyses, which are reviews of many studies, show that there is a strong association between vitamin D intake and metabolic syndrome. A study from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey revealed that, in Americans, the risk of metabolic syndrome was three times more likely when 25(OH)D, an active form of Vitamin D, levels were lower. From another study done by PORMETSYN, there was an inverse relationship between 25(OH)D and elevated blood pressure, indicating that vitamin D helps decrease risk factors for metabolic disease. Lastly, in another study that was based on a meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies, increasing the intake of vitamin D resulted in a 19% lower risk of metabolic syndrome. Overall, these studies all indicate that increased vitamin D intake will decrease risk factors that are associated with metabolic syndrome.
High Vitamin D foods result in a stable microbiome that can decrease chronic diseases.
Image Source: stevepb
The gut microbiome plays a large role in maintaining the immune system, protecting against infections and diseases, digesting important nutrients from foods, and ensuring adequate nutrition intake. There have been studies done on the role of the microbiome in metabolic syndrome, such as injecting microbiota from mice that have a regular diet to those in a germ free diet, and vice versa. A study cited within the journal, “The gut microbiota as an environmental factor that regulates fat storage,” by Backhed et al. examined that germ-free mice that received microbiota from conventional mice had a 60% increase in body fat. Another study used the same techniques as the previously listed study, but instead transplanted the stools from the mice. When germ-free mice were transplanted with conventional mice stool, they developed obesity and insulin resistance. Additionally, twin mice studies were done with the same experiment, and the mice that received fecal matter from the obese twin had an increase in body weight, fat, and showed other factors of obesity. This study has been extended to humans as well, as microbiota transplants from lean men to men with metabolic syndrome showed that those that received the transplant improved in their insulin sensitivity. This thereby decreases the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, improving the immune system overall.
Overall, the gut microbiome plays a very important role in the association between vitamin D and metabolic diseases. The gut microbiome regulates its roles within the body during inflammation, cancers, diseases, obesity, diabetes, and much more. Vitamin D plays a role in anti-inflammatory effects within the body, linking the roles of the microbiome and this specific vitamin, and it increases the diversity of bacteria within the microbiome. The gut, vitamin D, and metabolic syndrome are more connected than anyone thought before.
Overall, the gut microbiome plays a very important role in the association between vitamin D and metabolic diseases. The gut microbiome regulates its roles within the body during inflammation, cancers, diseases, obesity, diabetes, and much more. Vitamin D plays a role in anti-inflammatory effects within the body, linking the roles of the microbiome and this specific vitamin, and it increases the diversity of bacteria within the microbiome. The gut, vitamin D, and metabolic syndrome are more connected than anyone thought before.
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