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Loss of Weight Due to Vitamin D Supplement

Weight loss is correlated to the levels of vitamin D in the body at the beginning of a low-calorie diet, according to a 2009 study from the University of Minnesota.

  1. The Facts

    • Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps your body absorb calcium and promotes healthy levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. Vitamin D also helps signal your brain to produce the hormone leptin, which is one of the triggers for feeling full.

    Sources

    • Vitamin D is found naturally in UVB sunlight and foods such as fish liver oil and the flesh of some fish including salmon, tuna, and mackerel. Vitamin D can be found as a supplement in many multivitamins, as well as a supplement in breakfast cereals and some yogurts and orange juices.

    Standard Recommended Daily Allowances

    • For most people under 50, the Adequate Intake (AI) level is 200 IU (International Units) daily, as established by the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) at the Institute of Medicine of The National Academies (IOM). The Upper Limit (UL) is 2,000 IU daily. In March 2009, the IOM named a new committee to assess the Daily Recommended Intake (DRI) for vitamin D and calcium.

    Recommended Amounts for Losing Weight

    • There are no recommended amounts of vitamin D for losing weight. Because of potential toxicity, you should talk to your doctor before adding vitamin D to a weight loss regimen. Your doctor can test the serum 25(OH)D level in the blood and recommend the amount of vitamin D supplements required to achieve pre-diet and ongoing vitamin D levels.

    Proof Points

    • A small number of studies since 2004 show a correlation between levels of vitamin D, weight, and weight loss. For example, a University of Minnesota study, presented at The Endocrine Society's 91st Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., in June 2009, found that higher pre-diet serum levels of Vitamin D resulted in greater weight loss.

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