Obesity Suppresses a Key Vitamin D Enzyme: Insights from Human and Mouse Studies
Dr. Kumar’s Take:
This study is a major step forward in explaining why people with obesity often have low vitamin D levels. The researchers discovered that obesity suppresses the enzyme CYP2R1, which helps convert vitamin D into its usable form. Even more interesting: weight loss from gastric bypass surgery restored this enzyme’s expression in fat tissue. That means vitamin D deficiency in obesity isn’t just about lifestyle or sunlight—it’s rooted in real biological change. If you’re overweight and your vitamin D levels are low, it might not just be about how much sun or supplements you’re getting. Your body may be switching off the machinery that activates vitamin D.
