visits to this page
Oral vitamin D supplementation and body weight in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Eur J Pediatr. 2023 Mar 1. doi: 10.1007/s00431-023-04889-2
Sepideh Soltani 1, Sara Beigrezaei 2 3, Shima Abdollahi 4, Cain C T Clark 5, Marziyeh Ashoori 6
This study was designed to ascertain whether oral vitamin D supplementation (oral supplementation and fortified foods) is associated with changes in body weight measures in children and adolescents, using a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to October 28, 2022. The mean difference and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) of interested outcomes were pooled using a random-effects model. Twenty-one RCTs were included in the meta-analysis, and the results showed a significant decrease in body mass index (BMI) following vitamin D supplementation in children and adolescents (n = 9 studies, 1029 participants; weighted mean difference: - 0.43 kg/m2, 95% CI: - 0.79, - 0.08; P = 0.02; I2 = 58.5%). Overall, oral vitamin D supplementation had no significant effect on body weight and other anthropometric indices, including fat mass, lean mass, waist circumference, BMI Z-score, and height. Although results of body weight changed to significant after sensitivity analysis (WMD = 0.39 kg, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.78; P = 0.04; I2 = 0%, P-heterogeneity = 0.71), we also found significant weight gain in healthy pediatric population, and when the dose of vitamin D supplementation was up to 600 IU/day, the certainty of evidence was very low for weight, moderate for height and BMI, and low for the remaining outcomes.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that vitamin D supplementation may lead to a statistically significant weight gain in children and adolescents, while BMI was reduced. Although no significant change was observed in height, it seems vitamin D supplementation may elicit these changes by increasing skeletal growth; however, this remains to be verified. Further high-quality RCTs, with longer duration and larger sample sizes, are needed to yield more certain evidence in this regard.
 Download the PDF from Vitamin D Life
32+ Vitamin D Life pages with BMI in title
This list is automatically updated
Items found: 34
Title | | Modified |
Predictors of low vitamin D: race, age, and BMI (confirmed now by Machine Learning) – Feb 2024 | | 07 Mar, 2024 |
Obesity of 9,000 US adults: DEXA said 72% were obese, BMI said 42% were obese – June 2023 | | 20 Jun, 2023 |
Childhood BMI decreased when add a little Vitamin D – meta-analysis March 2023 | | 03 Mar, 2023 |
Vitamin D, by itself, does not decrease BMI – meta-analysis March 2018 | | 04 Dec, 2022 |
Vitamin D reduces BMI and waist circumference – umbrella meta-analysis – Sept 2022 | | 27 Sep, 2022 |
Teens more obese if lower Vitamin D as infant (1.3 more BMI points per 10 ng) – Oct 2020 | | 07 Oct, 2020 |
The higher the BMI, the lower the Vitamin D, with some difference between men and women – Dec 2019 | | 30 Dec, 2019 |
The more vitamin D the lower the infant BMI – March 2011 | | 08 Sep, 2019 |
Skin fold thickness but not BMI associated with poor Vitamin D Receptor in Han Chinese – April 2018 | | 13 Apr, 2019 |
BMI reduced by Vitamin D (not much reduction – only got VitD to 26 ng) – RCT Feb 2018 | | 24 Feb, 2018 |
Full-fat milk for children associated with higher Vitamin D and lower BMI – Dec 2016 | | 10 Nov, 2017 |
Obese need more Vitamin D: Volume dilution, IU per pound, or BMI – RCT Dec 2012 | | 14 Aug, 2016 |
Preeclampsia 2X more likely if low vitamin D, unless adjust for vitamin D factors (BMI, skin color) – Dec 2015 | | 21 Jan, 2016 |
Vitamin D not associated with PAD after adjusting for race, diabetes and BMI – July 2012 | | 15 Oct, 2015 |
Vitamin D thresholds in elderly vary with the disease, sex, and BMI, etc. – April 2015 | | 10 Apr, 2015 |
High risk of premature birth if high BMI (low vitamin D) – June 2013 | | 21 Mar, 2015 |
High risk of extremely premature birth if high BMI (low vitamin D) – June 2013 | | 21 Mar, 2015 |
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease associated with low vitamin D – independent of BMI – June 2014 | | 31 Dec, 2014 |
Half of the women who are fat do not have a high BMI – March 2012 | | 24 Dec, 2014 |
Higher BMI need more vitamin D – Oct 2010 | | 06 Nov, 2014 |
Higher BMI decreased response to 700 IU vitamin D – RCT 2008 | | 26 Feb, 2013 |
When BMI is an incorrect measure of obesity - March 2010 | | 12 Jan, 2013 |
Higher BMI associated with lower vitamin D – Sept 2012 | | 28 Dec, 2012 |
CDC vitamin D statistics for women: including blacks and high BMI – March 2012 | | 03 Nov, 2012 |
95 percent of astmatics low on vitamin D -esp high BMI April 2012 | | 07 Aug, 2012 |
More response to 1100 IU vitamin D in cold season or less BMI – May 2012 | | 15 May, 2012 |
Map of BMI increase - Feb 2011 | | 03 Apr, 2012 |
Obesity (BMI and waist circumference) associated with low vitamin D – Feb 2012 | | 09 Feb, 2012 |
Skin tone changes with season – high BMI different – Mar 2011 | | 19 Mar, 2011 |
Vitamin D serum prediction based on IU skin color and BMI – June 2010 | | 07 Aug, 2010 |
BMI was excellent predictor of vitamin D levels – Feb 2010 | | 25 Jun, 2010 |
Hockey stick relationship between vitamin D and BMI April 2010 | | 30 Apr, 2010 |
BMI decreased by Vitamin D (none of the trials used enough D for long enough) – meta-analysis July 2019 | | No value for 'modification_date_major' |
Fitness is associated with vitamin D, even accounting for BMI – Oct 2011 | | No value for 'modification_date_major' |
Vitamin D Life Obesity pages with WEIGHT in title (67 as of March 2023)
This list is automatically updated
Items found: 70
Title | | Modified |
Risk of Vitamin D deficiency with Breast Cancer: 2.7 X if normal weight, 7 X if obese (no surprise) – March 2024 | | 26 Mar, 2024 |
Weight loss and Vitamin D - many studies | | 20 Aug, 2023 |
Permanent Weight Loss - Vitamin D then water-fast - July 2023 | | 23 Jul, 2023 |
Response to Vitamin D varies with genes (3,000 IU, weight loss in this RCT) – March 2022 | | 22 Mar, 2022 |
Many people are actively trying to lose weight gained during pandemic - Vitamin D will help | | 13 Dec, 2021 |
Weight loss on low-calorie diet: 7 lbs more lost if got lots of Vitamin D – June 2021 | | 13 Dec, 2021 |
Little weight loss in obese children from very small amount of vitamin D (1200 IU) – RCT April 2020 | | 19 Jun, 2020 |
Large weight loss 32X more likely to be achieved if weight gain was due to Vitamin D Receptor – Jan 2020 | | 31 Jan, 2020 |
Obese lost more weight on diet if added 50,000 IU of vitamin D weekly – many RCTs | | 25 Dec, 2019 |
Obese taking 50,000 IU of vitamin D weekly lost more weight (again) – RCT Dec 2019 | | 25 Dec, 2019 |
2.3 X more weight loss in those who had low vitamin D levels and took some – Dec 2019 | | 18 Dec, 2019 |
Increased risk of weight gain when gene restricts Vitamin D getting to tissues (CYP24A1 in this case) – Nov 2019 | | 07 Nov, 2019 |
Increased weight in children 8X more likely for each unit increase in adenovirus (if ignore Vitamin D) – Nov 2019 | | 07 Nov, 2019 |
The Vitamin That Quadruples Weight Loss - Oct 2019 | | 26 Oct, 2019 |
Obese lost 3X more weight with Vitamin D - July 2018 | | 09 Sep, 2019 |
This Common Vitamin Doubles Weight Loss– July 2019 | | 21 Jul, 2019 |
Ketogenic Diet – if lose 10 kg of weight, restore 4 ng of Vitamin D – June 2019 | | 14 Jul, 2019 |
Omega-3 may reduce weight gain and maintain weight loss – Aug 2018 | | 03 Nov, 2018 |
Vitamin D and Resveratrol reduce weight gain in rats - Sept 2011 | | 22 Sep, 2018 |
How Omega-3 fights metabolic syndrome and weight – Feb 2018 | | 11 Sep, 2018 |
Less weight gain if more vitamin D (in rats) – 2017 | | 28 Jan, 2018 |
Less weight gain if add Vitamin D, even if have a high fat diet (in rats) – RCT Dec 2017 | | 02 Jan, 2018 |
Increased Testosterone and Erectile function, decreased weight with Vitamin D – March 2017 | | 31 Aug, 2017 |
MSG induces weight gain in female rats not supplemented with active vitamin D – April 2017 | | 15 Apr, 2017 |
UVB 50 percent more response in obese than normal weight (other study disagrees) – Feb 2017 | | 02 Mar, 2017 |
Off topic: Lose weight by drinking water when feel hungry, eat 20 minutes later if still hungry | | 31 Jul, 2016 |
Vitamin D activates the hypothalamus (in rodents) to reduce weight and diabetes– May 2016 | | 25 May, 2016 |
Increase in Vitamin D deficiency with weight and skin darkness – chart – March 2016 | | 10 Mar, 2016 |
Weight loss increased Vitamin D levels, which improved bones and decreased inflammation – Oct 2015 | | 18 Aug, 2015 |
During weight loss a 1 percent decrease in fat resulted in 1 percent increase in vitamin D levels - June 2015 | | 23 Jun, 2015 |
Weight loss includes muscle loss unless add vitamin D, whey and leucine – RCT Feb 2015 | | 07 Feb, 2015 |
Less weight gain by senior women if vitamin D levels over 30 ng – Kaiser Dec 2012 | | 10 Jan, 2015 |
Off topic – Proven again – artificial sweeteners actually make you GAIN weight – Oct 2012 | | 23 Dec, 2014 |
Low-level antibiotics causes weight gain in mice (and most mammals) – Aug 2014 | | 09 Nov, 2014 |
Weight loss with salacia reticulata and just 200 IU of vitamin D – RCT 2013 | | 16 Aug, 2014 |
Less weight gain in mice getting lots of vitamin D – June 2014 | | 03 Aug, 2014 |
Need 75 IU vitamin D per kg of body weight (volume dilution) – March 2013 | | 05 May, 2014 |
40 percent less likely to gain weight if live at high altitude (no mention of UVB nor vitamin D) – April 2014 | | 25 Apr, 2014 |
Weight reduction review – Vitamin D and Calcium may help – July 2011 | | 21 Mar, 2014 |
Weight loss and Vitamin D, Calcium, and Magnesium | | 14 Mar, 2014 |
Weight loss by UV or Vitamin D | | 14 Mar, 2014 |
No weight loss when average over trials lasting 6 weeks and only 200 IU of vitamin D – meta-analysis July 2013 | | 03 Nov, 2013 |
Obese children gain weight more quickly when have low vitamin D – Oct 2013 | | 17 Oct, 2013 |
Need 40 to 80 ng of vitamin D to lose weight – Colgan Sept 2013 | | 22 Sep, 2013 |
Those low on vitamin D were 2.4X more likely to gain weight – June 2013 | | 06 Jun, 2013 |
Vitamin D and Obesity: review concludes that D is just diluted by total weight – April 2013 | | 17 Apr, 2013 |
Higher weight and blood pressure in second generation from mother mouse who had low vitamin D – 2012 | | 14 Feb, 2013 |
Lost more weight on low calorie diet if add 600 mg Ca and just 150 IU vitamin D – RCT Jan 2013 | | 10 Jan, 2013 |
400 IU of Vitamin D is just diluted by weight, and not stored in fat – Jan 2012 | | 07 Nov, 2012 |
Weight loss of at least 10 percent resulted in 5 ng increase in vitamin D levels – Sept 2012 | | 29 Sep, 2012 |
Vitamin D levels increased when senior women lost weight – July 2011 | | 18 Jul, 2012 |
32 ng vitamin D and 500 mg of Calcium helped reduce weight by 5.6 kg – Sept 2010 | | 25 May, 2012 |
Low vitamin D in womb linked to more weight at age 6 – May 2012 | | 24 May, 2012 |
How might Calcium and Vitamin D cause weight loss – Mar 2012 | | 17 May, 2012 |
Vitamins To Speed Up Metabolism And Aid Weight Loss – May 2011 | | 01 Sep, 2011 |
Bone lost during postmenopausal dieting not all recovered with weight re-gain – Aug 2011 | | 21 Aug, 2011 |
Losing weight increases vitamin D level – June 2010 | | 23 May, 2011 |
Women can lose weight with vitamin D - Nov 2010 | | 30 Jan, 2011 |
Middle-aged women gained weight if they did not drink fortified milk – Sept 2010 | | 20 Nov, 2010 |
Half of newborn deaths are due to excessive weight of their mothers – Oct 2010 | | 16 Oct, 2010 |
More calcium and vitamin D resulted in weight loss – Sept 2010 | | 28 Sep, 2010 |
Calcium and vitamin D aided weight loss – RCT Sept 2010 | | 13 Sep, 2010 |
Now we know why vitamin D is not advertised for weight loss | | 09 Sep, 2010 |
Weight loss improves both vitamin D and insulin resistance – Sept 2010 | | 09 Sep, 2010 |
Multivitamins and minerals helped obese lose weight – Feb 2010 | | 27 Aug, 2010 |
Amylase increases with age, as does weight | | 10 Aug, 2010 |
Vitamin D and Weight Loss and Obesity – March 2010 | | 08 Aug, 2010 |
Lose weight and increase vitamin D level in blood – April 2010 | | 08 Aug, 2010 |
Adequate Vitamin D Levels May Aid Weight Loss in Obese Patients – Minn. 2009 | | 08 Aug, 2010 |
Vitamin D Promotes Weight Loss – Jan 2010 | | 08 Aug, 2010 |