Dieters lost 5 more pounds if achieved more than 32 ng of vitamin D – RCT

Vitamin D3 supplementation during weight loss: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Am J Clin Nutr. 2014 Mar 12.

Mason C1, Xiao L, Imayama I, Duggan C, Wang CY, Korde L, McTiernan A.

Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA (CM, LX, II, CD, C-YW, LK, and AM), and the Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health (AM), the Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health (CYW), and the Department of Medicine (LK), University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with obesity; whether repletion supports weight loss and changes obesity-related biomarkers is unknown.

OBJECTIVE: We compared 12 mo of vitamin D3 supplementation with placebo on weight, body composition, insulin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) in postmenopausal women in a weight-loss intervention.

DESIGN:

A total of 218 overweight/obese women (50-75 y of age) with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] ≥10 ng/mL but <32 ng/mL were randomly assigned to weight loss * 2000 IU oral vitamin D3/d or weight loss + daily placebo. The weight-loss intervention included a reduced-calorie diet (10% weight loss goal) and 225 min/wk of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity. Mean 12-mo changes in weight, body composition, serum insulin, CRP, and 25(OH)D were compared between groups (intent-to-treat) by using generalized estimating equations.

RESULTS:

A total of 86% of participants completed the 12-mo measurements. The mean (95% CI) change in 25(OH)D was 13.6 (11.6, 15.4) ng/mL in the vitamin D3 arm compared with -1.3 (-2.6, -0.3) ng/mL in the placebo arm (P < 0.0001). Changes in weight [-7.1 (-8.7, -5.7) compared with -7.4 (-8.1, -5.4) kg], body mass index (in kg/m2: both -2.8), waist circumference [-4.9 (-6.7, -2.9) compared with -4.5 (-5.6, -2.6) cm], percentage body fat [-4.1 (-4.9, -2.9) compared with -3.5 (-4.5, -2.5)], trunk fat [-4.1 (-4.7, -3.0) compared with -3.7 (-4.3, -2.9) kg], insulin [-2.5 (-3.4, -1.7) compared with -2.4 (-3.3, -1.4) μU/mL], and CRP [-0.9 (-1.2, -0.6) compared with -0.79 (-0.9, -0.4) mg/mL] were similar between groups (all P > 0.05).

Compared with women who achieved 25(OH)D <32 ng/mL, women randomly assigned to vitamin D who became replete (ie, 25(OH)D ≥32 ng/mL)

• lost more weight [-8.8 (-11.1, -6.9) compared with -5.6 (-7.2, -5.0) kg; P = 0.05],

• waist circumference [-6.6 (-9.3, -4.3) compared with -2.5 (-4.6, -2.0) cm; P = 0.02], and

• percentage body fat [-4.7 (-6.1, -3.5) compared with -2.6 (-3.9, -2.2); P = 0.04].

Among women with complete pill counts (97% adherence), the mean decrease in CRP was 1.18 mg/mL (46%) in the vitamin D arm compared with 0.46 mg/mL (25%) in the placebo arm (P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS:

Vitamin D3 supplementation during weight loss did not increase weight loss or associated factors compared with placebo; however, women who became replete experienced greater improvements. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01240213.

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Summary and comments by Vitamin D Life

Postmenopausal overweight women were on dietary restriction plan for 1 year, with exercise

Some of the women had 2,000 IU of vitamin D added to their diet

Any woman who achieved > 32 ng of vitamin D ended up losing an addtional 5 lbs of weight

Comments by Vitamin D Life

1. A majority of people who are overweight need > 2,000 IU to achieve > 32 ng of vitamin D

2. A Loading dose of 200,000 to 400,000 IU reduces by about 3 months the time to get to > 32 ng

See also Vitamin D Life

• Weight loss and Vitamin D - many studies

• This Common Vitamin Doubles Weight Loss– July 2019

• The Vitamin D Diet – book Sept 2012

• Vitamin D may block the obesity gene (FTO) – Jan 2014

• Obese lost more weight on diet if added 50,000 IU of vitamin D weekly – many RCTs

• Weight loss and Vitamin D, Calcium, and Magnesium

• Vitamins To Speed Up Metabolism And Aid Weight Loss – May 2011

• Overview Metabolic Syndrome and vitamin D

• Obese need 2.5 IU of vitamin D per kg to increase 1 ng (about 3.4 X more) – RCT Sept 2013

  • Example: Typical 100 kg (250 lbs) woman needs 2,500 IU to increase vitamin D by 10 ng, 5,000 IU to increase by 10 ng
  • Please note that this is typical: An individual may need anywhere from 2X less to 2X more

• Now we know why vitamin D is not advertised for weight loss it was patented

• Women can lose weight with vitamin D - Nov 2010 2000 IU

• Vitamin D is sometimes a diet pill - Vitamin D Life Blog post

• Weight loss by UV or Vitamin D

• Overview Women and Vitamin D

• Need 40 to 80 ng of vitamin D to lose weight – Colgan Sept 2013

• Overweight and obese lost 12 lbs with vitamin D in 6 months– RCT May 2015

Overview Obesity and Vitamin D contains the following summary

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