Vitamin D
Obese and overweight people who are deficient in vitamin D should take supplements to boost their chances of losing weight, experts have said.
The advice comes as a new study warns people who have low levels of the ‘sunshine’ vitamin, are more likely to be obese or overweight.
Previous studies have linked a vitamin D deficiency with developing obesity and the risk of related complications, including type 2 diabetes.
Researchers at the University of Milan estimated that in northern Italy, severe vitamin D deficiency ranges from six per cent in overweight people to 30 to 40 per cent in those considered morbidly obese.
Almost all obese participants did not have a vitamin D level in the optimal range.
Scientists recruited 400 obese or overweight adults who were split into three groups – those who took no supplements, those who took 25,000 vitamin D units a month, and those who took 100,000.
All participants were put on the same balanced, low-calorie diet.
After six months, only those who took 100,000 units a month achieved optimal vitamin D status.
But a significantly greater weight decrease and reduction in waist circumference was observed in both groups that took the supplements.
Those who took 25,000 units lost an average of 3.8kg, while the figure was 5.4kg for the 100,000 unit group and 1.2kg amongst those who took no supplements.
Those who took 100,000 units lost 5.48cm on average from their waist, those who took 25,000 units reduced by 4cm and those with no supplementation lost 3.21cm.
The study authors said: ‘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.
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