A growing body of evidence suggests that an adequate vitamin D status is required for optimal health. The role of vitamin D deficiency in skeletal diseases, like osteoporosis has long been acknowledged. Recent studies suggest that Vitamin D has pleiotropic effects and that vitamin D deficiency may be associated with increased inflammation and with obesity. The aim of the study is to investigate relations between serum Vitamin D levels and CRP levels as a marker of inflammation in subjects of the Rotterdam Study. We will also study the association between serum vitamin D levels and body composition assessed by total body DXA to determine if lower serum vitamin D levels are associated with higher fat mass or lower lean mass or both and if there is a relation with fat distribution.
