Introduction and aim. Obesity is an inflammatory disease which is related to the increased risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and serious psychosocial and economic consequences. Numerous studies suggest that development of obesity is associated with reduced blood concentration of vitamin D, with the VDR polymorphism and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the FTO gene. The aim of the study was to present the current knowledge concerning the association between vitamin D and developing one of the diseases of civilization – obesity. Material and methods. Systematic review of the current Polish and foreign literature regarding the role vitamin D in the development of obesity. Results and conclusion. Vitamin D inhibits the activity of the transcription factor NF-κB, reduces the production of proinflammatory cytokines, and alleviates the effects of obesity. The effect of FTO SNP rs9939609 gene was significantly stronger in patients with low blood level of vitamin D than in those with normal blood concentration of this vitamin. Many studies have confirmed the association between vitamin D deficiency and obesity, abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia and the metabolic syndrome, although some publications present the adverse opinion.

Key words: obesity, vitamin D, VDR.