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Psychologist, Jeremy Dean, PhD is the founder and author of PsyBlog
- Taking vitamin D supplements can significantly increase weight loss, according to a recent study.
- People who took vitamin D supplements had over four times the weight loss as those that did not, researchers found.
- Vitamin D also doubled the number of inches taken off their waistlines.
- Low levels of vitamin D is repeatedly linked to being overweight and obese.
- Almost 40 percent of obese people are deficient in vitamin D.
- The study included 400 obese and overweight people with vitamin D deficiency.
- They were put on a low-calorie diet and split into three groups.
- One group took 25,000 IU of vitamin D per month,
- the second took 100,000 IU of vitamin D per month and the
- control group took none.
- Six months later the results showed that both vitamin D groups had lost more weight than those who were not taking the vitamin.
- Those taking 100,000 (per month, or around 3,000 IU per day, had 12 pounds of weight loss.
- People taking 25,000 IU, or around 800 IU per day, lost 8 pounds.
- In comparison, those only following the calorie restricted diet had just 2.6 pounds of weight loss over the six months.
- The study’s authors write:
- “The present data indicate that in obese and overweight people with vitamin D deficiency, vitamin D supplementation aids weight loss and enhances the beneficial effects of a reduced-calorie diet.”
- Measurements of dieters’ waistlines also revealed vitamin D had had an effect.
- Those taking 100,000 IU lost an average of two inches from their waistline compared to just over 1 inch in the control group.
- The researchers conclude:
- “All people affected by obesity should have their levels of vitamin D tested to see if they are deficient, and if so, begin taking supplements.”
Taken from Vitamin D Council, which had the following reference:
Vitamin D Supplements May Aid Weight Loss For Obese And Overweight People, Study Finds Huffingpost Sept 2015 ( a conference presentation?)
See also VitaminDWiki
- Lost 19 lbs more if add vitamin D to calorie restriction and walking program– July 2018
- This Common Vitamin Doubles Weight Loss– July 2019 by same aiuthor
- Obese lost more weight on diet if added 50,000 IU of vitamin D weekly – many RCTs
Note: To get weight loss it is important that the vitamin D be taken infrequently, not daily
Obesity is associated with low Vitamin D (and treated by D as well) – Aug 2019 has the following
Fast weight loss by Obese Adults: Summary of the data as of Sept 2019
1) 50,000 IU Vitamin D weekly for at least 6 months
If gut problems, should use a gut-friendly form of vitamin D
2) Add calorie restriction diet and light exercise after ~2 months*
* Vitamin D levels must be above 30ng/ml to help with weight loss
* Start losing weight 2 months sooner if take a 50,000 IU daily for a week
3) More weight loss if also add Magnesium or cofactors
30% Improved Vitamin D response with Magnesium - a Vitamin D Cofactor
Note: Magnesium reduces weight loss by itself as well
20% improved vitamin D response if also add Omega-3 a Vitamin D Cofactor
Note: Omega-3 reduces weight loss by itself as well
4) More weight loss if also improve activation of Vitamin D Receptor
Vitamin D Receptor activator: 0-30% improved Vitamin D response
Obesity 1.5 X more likely if poor Vitamin D Receptor – meta-analysis Nov 2019
Update Dec 2019 - Dr. Greger plant-based eating (not diet) for both weight loss and health.
His book does not mention Vitamin D nor Adenovirus
Meta-analysis found no weight loss benefit (but NONE of the trials used high-dose Vitamin D for a long time)
Also, none of the trials analyzed used calorie restriction or exercise
Is Vitamin D Supplementation Useful for Weight Loss Programs?
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials - July 2019
Medicina (Kaunas). 2019 Jul; 55(7): 368. doi: 10.3390/medicina55070368
Simone Perna
Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki
Background and Objectives: The controversy about the impact of vitamin D supplementation on weight loss treatment was observed in several randomized controlled trials (RCTs). This meta-analysis investigates the effects of vitamin D supplementation (cholecalciferol or ergocalciferol) on weight loss through holistic measurements of Body Mass Index (BMI), weight and waist circumference.
Materials and Methods: Google Scholar, WOS, PubMed and Scopus were explored to collect relevant studies. The selected articles focused on vitamin D supplementation in overweight and obese individuals with different conditions. Eleven RCTs were included into this meta-analysis with a total of 947 subjects, with a mean of the follow-up from 1 to 12 months and different vitamin D interventions (from 25,000 to 600,000 IU/monthly of cholecalciferol).
Results: The meta-analyzed mean differences for random effects showed that cholecalciferol supplementation deceases the BMI by −0.32 kg/m2 (CI95% −0.52, −0.12 kg/m2, p = 0.002) and the waist circumference by −1.42 cm (CI95% −2.41, −0.42 cm, p = 0.005), but does not statistically affect weight loss −0.43 kg (CI95% −1.05, +0.19 kg, p = 0.17).
Conclusions: This meta-analysis lays the foundation for defining the potential clinical efficacy of vitamin D supplementation as a potential therapeutic option for weight loss programs, but further studies are needed to confirm the validity of these findings and delineate potential underlying mechanisms.