Weight loss and Vitamin D

Los Angeles is in the Sun Belt; thus, most women in the city can increase Vitamin D levels by simply spending time in the sun. It is common knowledge that adequate Vitamin D is necessary for health; however, a new study has found that circulating Vitamin D concentrations in postmenopausal women are directly associated with weight loss, whether achieved through decreasing calories or increasing physical activity. The study was conducted by researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington. The authors noted that low concentrations of circulating Vitamin D are common on obese postmenopausal women and may represent a potential mechanism explaining the elevated risk of certain cancers and cardiovascular disease observed in obese or overweight individuals. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of 12 months of weight loss through caloric restriction, exercise intervention, or both on serum Vitamin D levels.

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The study group was comprised of 438 overweight and obese postmenopausal women: 118 were assigned to dietary modification; 117 were assigned to an exercise intervention; 117 were assigned to diet plus exercise; and 87 were assigned to a control group. Women receiving the dietary intervention experienced a 10% weight loss goal using a group-based reduced-calorie program. The women assigned to the exercise intervention underwent 45 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic activity daily for five days each week. The investigators measured serum Vitamin D levels at baseline and at 12 months. Women who lost the most weight had the largest increase in Vitamin D levels. The authors concluded that a greater degree of weight loss, achieved through either a reduced-calorie diet or increased exercise, is associated with increased circulating Vitamin D concentrations. They noted that although greater adiposity is associated with lower concentrations of circulating vitamin D, their findings suggest that lifestyle-based weight loss of 5% to 10% body weight is associated with a modest increase in serum Vitamin D; however, baseline vitamin D status had little effect on the achievement of weight loss in a sample of overweight and obese postmenopausal women. They recommended that further research should be conducted to better understand the role of vitamin D in pathways influencing energy balance and that this research may lead to a clearer understanding of optimal vitamin D concentrations for promoting health.