Low vitamin d and weight gain
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Low Vitamin D and Weight Gain: A Comprehensive Review
Introduction to Vitamin D and Weight Gain
Vitamin D, a crucial nutrient for bone health, has been implicated in various metabolic processes. Recent research has explored its potential role in weight management and obesity. This article synthesizes findings from multiple studies to understand the relationship between low vitamin D levels and weight gain.
No Direct Association Between Vitamin D and Weight Gain
Population-Based Studies
A large population-based study conducted in Lausanne, Switzerland, found no significant association between vitamin D levels and weight or waist circumference changes over 5 and 10 years. Participants were categorized based on their vitamin D status (normal, insufficient, and deficient), and no differences in weight gain were observed among these groups 1.
Elderly Women Cohort
In a study involving elderly women, baseline vitamin D levels did not predict weight change over 4.5 years. However, women with higher vitamin D levels at baseline gained slightly less weight compared to those with lower levels, suggesting a minor protective effect of higher vitamin D against weight gain in this subgroup 2.
Vitamin D and Abdominal Obesity
Longitudinal Health Survey
A longitudinal study from the Health 2000/2011 Survey indicated that low vitamin D status predicted an increase in waist circumference in men but not in women. This suggests that vitamin D insufficiency may be a risk factor for abdominal obesity in men, although the association with overall weight gain was less clear 3.
Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation
High-Fat Diet and Immune Function
Research on rats fed a high-fat diet showed that vitamin D supplementation reduced weight gain and improved immune function markers. This suggests that vitamin D may mitigate some adverse effects of a high-fat diet, although these findings are based on animal models 4.
Randomized Trials in Obese Adults
A randomized trial in obese adults with low vitamin D levels found that vitamin D supplementation did not significantly affect body fat, insulin resistance, or inflammatory markers. This indicates that while vitamin D may improve serum levels, it does not necessarily translate to weight loss or metabolic improvements 5.
Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
Weight Loss and Vitamin D Status
A systematic review and meta-analysis of weight-loss trials revealed that weight loss is associated with a modest increase in serum vitamin D levels. However, vitamin D supplementation alone did not lead to significant weight loss, suggesting that the relationship between vitamin D and weight is complex and possibly bidirectional 7.
Controversies and Mechanisms
The association between low vitamin D and obesity is supported by observational studies, but intervention trials have shown mixed results. Potential mechanisms include volumetric dilution, sequestration in adipose tissue, and reduced synthesis in obese individuals. More research is needed to clarify these mechanisms and the role of vitamin D in weight management 8.
Conclusion
Current evidence suggests that while low vitamin D levels are associated with obesity, vitamin D supplementation alone does not significantly impact weight loss. The relationship between vitamin D and weight gain is complex and influenced by various factors, including gender and baseline health status. Further studies are required to fully understand the potential role of vitamin D in weight management and obesity prevention.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
No Association between Vitamin D and Weight Gain: A Prospective, Population-Based Study
No association was found between vitamin D status and weight or waist gain at 5- and 10-year follow-up.
Observational Study
Very Rigorous JournalAssociations between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and weight gain in elderly women.
Higher 25(OH)D levels are associated with lower weight gains, suggesting low vitamin D status may predispose to fat accumulation in elderly women.
Observational StudyDoes vitamin D status predict weight gain or increase in waist circumference? Results from the longitudinal Health 2000/2011 Survey
Low vitamin D status may predict increased waist circumference in men but not in women, and may also increase the risk of weight gain in men.
Observational Study
Rigorous JournalVitamin D reduces high-fat diet induced weight gain and C-reactive protein, increases interleukin-10, and reduces CD86 and caspase-3.
Vitamin D supplementation can reduce weight gain, inflammation, and immune system dysfunction in high-fat diet-induced obesity.
RCT
Animal StudyEffects of vitamin D supplementation on body fat accumulation, inflammation, and metabolic risk factors in obese adults with low vitamin D levels - results from a randomized trial.
Increasing vitamin D levels for 26 weeks does not affect obesity complications, such as insulin resistance, hypertension, and inflammation.
RCT
Highly CitedVitamin D status and ill health: a systematic review.
Low vitamin D levels are a marker of ill health, with inflammatory processes reducing it, and low-dose supplementation in elderly women may slightly reduce all-cause mortality.
Systematic ReviewHighly CitedVitamin D status and weight loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and nonrandomized controlled weight-loss trials.
Weight loss may marginally improve vitamin D status compared to weight maintenance, potentially due to reversed causation with increased adiposity leading to suboptimal circulating vitamin D concentrations.
Meta-AnalysisVery Rigorous JournalHighly CitedVitamin D and Obesity: Current Evidence and Controversies
Obesity is associated with low vitamin D levels, but weight loss has little effect on improving it, and vitamin D supplementation does not show a beneficial effect on weight loss.
Systematic ReviewHighly CitedVitamin D Supplementation and Genetic Polymorphisms Impact on Weight Loss Diet Outcomes in Caucasians: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study
Oral vitamin D3 3000 IU supplementation combined with a personalized weight-loss diet improves vitamin D status and decreases obesity markers in overweight/obese Caucasians with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency.
RCTCalcium plus vitamin D3 supplementation facilitated Fat loss in overweight and obese college students with very-low calcium consumption: a randomized controlled trial
Calcium plus vitamin D3 supplementation for 12 weeks accelerated body fat and visceral fat loss in overweight and obese college students with very-low calcium consumption during energy restriction.
RCTVery Rigorous JournalHighly Cited