Association between vitamin deficiency and metabolic disorders related to obesity

ABSTRACT

Inappropriate food behavior contributes to obesity and leads to vitamin deficiency. This review discusses the nutritional status of water- and fat-soluble vitamins in obese subjects. We verified that most vitamins are deficient in obese individuals, especially the fat-soluble vitamins, folic acid, vitamin B₁₂ and vitamin C. However, some vitamins have been less evaluated in cases of obesity. The adipose tissue is considered a metabolic and endocrine organ, which in excess leads to changes in body homeostasis, as well as vitamin deficiency which can aggravate the pathological state. Therefore, the evaluation of vitamin status is of fundamental importance in obese individuals.

KEYWORDS:

• Obesity
• vitamin deficiency
• metabolic disorders
• fat-soluble vitamins
• water-soluble vitamins

Acknowledgment

The authors are grateful to Prof. Dr. Rinaldo Cardoso dos Santos for the English review.