Vitamin D and Weight Loss – Recognizing the Connection

Anthony Gucciardi
NaturalSociety
May 1, 2012

Vitamin D is a well-known cancer preventative and overall health enhancer, but some researchers have even made a serious connection between vitamin D and weight loss. The University of Minnestoa study found that higher vitamin D levels coupled with a properly balanced diet helps people lose more weight than if simply utilizing a properly balanced diet. What this means is that one of many vitamin D benefits is the acceleration of fat loss, diet aside.

Vitamin D Benefits | Vitamin D and Weight Loss

The subjects were monitored for 11 weeks, and given 750 fewer calories than their estimated daily needs. They also had their fat distribution measured with DXA (bone densitometry) scans. On average, subjects had insufficient vitamin D levels, however, the authors found that baseline, or pre-diet, vitamin D levels ‘predicted weight loss in a linear relationship’. For every increase of 1 ng/mL in level of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol – the precursor form of vitamin D and an effective method to measuring vitamin D levels – participants lost nearly half of a pound (0.196 kg) more on their calorie-restricted diet.

Similarly, for each 1-ng/mL increase in the active form of vitamin D,1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, individuals lost about 0.25lbs (0.107 kg) more. In addition, higher baseline vitamin D levels (both the precursor and active forms) predicted greater loss of abdominal fat, lending even greater reason to take advantage of the relationship between vitamin D and weight loss.

An interesting part of the study is weight loss occurred particularly around the abdomen, a sweet spot every overweight individual wants to target. Could the vitamin D and weight loss connection focus on fat loss on the stomach area specifically? Of course it can, but first you need to build up a proper nutritional platform to work from. Vitamin D and other essential nutrients can help speed up the process of weight loss, ward off cancer, and other deadly diseases, but food can not be replaced. Ensure that you are eating the correct foods, and be careful about deceptive labeling.

“Our results suggest the possibility that adding Vitamin D to a reduced-calorie diet will lead to increased weight loss in individuals with low Vitamin D levels,” said Researcher Shalamar Sibley, M.D., who headed the study.

These findings are yet one additional indicator that vitamin D can be used to treat various conditions, as well as promote weight loss. The majority of the U.S. is deficient in vitamin D, leading to a multitude of health problems such as increased risk of contracting a cold or flu, and even depression. Some individuals don’t yet recognize the benefits of vitamin D, but sharing the knowledge on the vitamin D and weight loss connection could ignite a thirst for more knowledge.

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