Vitamin D supplements might help some lose weight

Italian study suggests that daily pill may boost dieting efforts in those already low in the nutrient.

12 may 2015—For obese Americans who are low on vitamin D, taking a supplement of the nutrient might help them lose weight, a new study suggests.

According to an Italian team, led by Luisella Vigna of the University of Milan, prior research has shown that vitamin D deficiency is associated with a higher risk of obesity and obesity-related complications.

However, studies on the use of vitamin D supplements to curb obesity have so far been inconclusive, the team said.

The new study included 400 overweight and obese people with vitamin D deficiency who were put on a low-calorie diet and then divided into three groups. One group took no vitamin D supplements, while the two other groups took either 25,000 international units (IU) or 100,000 IU of vitamin D per month.

After six months, participants in both vitamin D supplementation groups had lost more weight and had greater reductions in their waistlines than those who hadn't taken the supplements, Vigna's team said.

The study was to be presented Thursday at the European Congress on Obesity. Experts note that studies presented at medical meetings are typically considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

"The present data indicate that in obese and overweight people with vitamin D deficiency, vitamin D supplementation aids weight loss and enhances the beneficial effects of a reduced-calorie diet," Vigna's team wrote. The researchers suggest that all overweight and obese people should have their vitamin D levels tested.

Previous studies have suggested that about 40 percent of North American adults are vitamin D-deficient, according to the study.

Two experts in the United States said the findings might have merit for some.

"This study is somewhat reminiscent of a few years back, when there was an explosion of research on the effect of calcium in aiding in weight loss [and weight loss maintenance]," said Dr. Christopher Ochner, an expert in nutrition, weight loss and obesity at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. "However, it is very important to note that the effect of vitamin D appears limited to only those people who are vitamin D-deficient."

Getting the right amounts of vitamins and other nutrients is important, Ochner said. However, "this study does not suggest that everyone looking to lose weight should start taking large doses of vitamin D—or any other supplement," he stressed, adding that "most individuals are not vitamin D-deficient."

Toni Marinucci is a registered dietitian nutritionist at Staten Island University Hospital in New York City. She said vitamin D deficiency may undermine efforts to maintain a healthy weight.

The study suggests that "overweight and obese adults who are vitamin D-deficient can benefit by coupling their efforts on a reduced-calorie diet with consuming a vitamin D supplement," Marinucci said.

Vitamin D is nicknamed the "sunshine vitamin" because the body produces the nutrient when skin is exposed to sunlight. People can also get vitamin D through such foods as eggs, milk, yogurt, tuna, salmon, cereal and orange juice.

More information: More Information

The Harvard School of Public Health has more about vitamin D and health.