Vitamin D, on the other hand, is a hormone that acts on various organs, and its deficiency impairs several bodily functions. “For that reason, monitoring vitamin D levels and treating excess abdominal fat are essential measures to prevent premature death, especially after age 50,” he adds. Having abdominal obesity alone increases the risk of death by 47%, while vitamin D deficiency alone can raise this risk by up to 91%. Abdominal fat “sequesters” circulating vitamin D and stores it in adipocytes (fat cells), preventing the vitamin from reaching the bloodstream. Additionally, another study by the group revealed that vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of cognitive decline.