A new study recently suggested that weight loss among older women who are either overweight or obese can greatly increase their vitamin D levels. Specifically, a 15-percent decrease in the body weight might just boost the levels of this beneficial vitamin.
The research was conducted by a team of experts at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The study can very well lead more researchers to explore the benefits of boosting vitamin D in preventing chronic disorders, such as diabetes, heart problems and cancer.
“Since vitamin D is generally lower in persons with obesity, it is possible that low vitamin D could account, in part, for the link between obesity and diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes,” Dr. Caitlin Mason said, the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral research fellow.
Essentially, vitamin D belongs to a group of nutrients classified as fat-soluble. Vitamin D functions to enhance calcium absorption, reduce inflammatory reactions and promote a healthier immune system. It can be naturally derived from fatty fish. The body also produces it upon exposure to sunlight.
Losing up to 10 percent of body weight can cause a good increase in vitamin D levels. A 15 percent weight loss, however, can significantly increase the amount of vitamin D three times higher than the usual 10 percent weight loss. The researchers gathered 439 women who are postmenopausal, and are either overweight or obese. Dr. Anne McTiernan, the director of the Hutchinson Center’s Prevention Center, expressed her surprise on the effect of 15 percent weight loss in the vitamin D levels.
The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
About Denise