Vitamin D is an important micronutrient with major health benefits, including improved immunity and stronger bones.
There is also mounting evidence that it could help you lose weight.
This article takes an in-depth look at vitamin D’s effects on weight loss.
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Explore new cuisinesWhat is vitamin D?
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that you can get from vitamin D-rich foods or supplements. Your body is also able to make it through sun exposure.
Vitamin D is essential for maintaining strong bones and teeth, keeping your immune system healthy, and facilitating the absorption of calcium and phosphorus.
Because vitamin D is not found naturally in many foods, most health professionals recommend getting at least 5–30 minutes of sun exposure daily or taking a supplement to meet the recommended amount of 600 IU (15 mcg).
However, those living too far from the equator may not be able to meet their requirements through sun exposure alone. At certain latitudes, very little vitamin D can be produced by the skin for up to six months of the year.
Unfortunately, nearly 50% of people worldwide are low in vitamin D.
Those at risk of deficiency include:
- Older adults
- Breastfed infants
- Dark-skinned individuals
- Those with limited sun exposure
Obesity is another risk factor for deficiency. Interestingly, some evidence suggests that getting enough vitamin D could help with weight loss.
Summary: Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that you can get from sun exposure, food, or supplements. Nearly 50% of people are low in vitamin D.
Overweight people tend to have lower vitamin D levels
Studies show that a higher body mass index and body fat percentage are associated with lower blood levels of vitamin D.
Several theories speculate about the relationship between low vitamin D levels and obesity.
Some claim that obese people consume fewer vitamin D-rich foods, thus explaining the association.
Others point to behavioral differences, noting that obese individuals tend to expose less skin and may not absorb as much vitamin D from the sun.
Furthermore, certain enzymes are needed to convert vitamin D into its active form, and levels of these enzymes may differ between obese and non-obese individuals.
However, a 2012 study noted that once vitamin D levels in obese individuals are adjusted for body size, there’s no difference between levels in obese and non-obese individuals.
This indicates that your vitamin D needs depend on body size, meaning obese individuals need more than normal-weight people to reach the same blood levels. This could help explain why obese people are more likely to be deficient.
Interestingly, losing weight can also affect your vitamin D levels.
In theory, a reduction in body size would mean a decrease in your vitamin D requirement. However, since the amount of it in your body remains the same when you lose weight, your levels would increase.
And the degree of weight loss may affect the extent to which its levels increase.
One study found that even small amounts of weight loss led to a modest increase in blood levels of vitamin D.
Furthermore, participants who lost at least 15% of their body weight experienced increases that were nearly three times greater than those seen in participants who lost 5–10% of their body weight.
Moreover, some evidence shows that increasing vitamin D in the blood can reduce body fat and boost weight loss.
Summary: Obesity is a risk factor for vitamin D deficiency. This is likely because your daily requirement for vitamin D depends on your body size.
Higher vitamin D levels may aid weight loss
Some evidence suggests that getting enough vitamin D could enhance weight loss and decrease body fat.
Suggested read: 10 natural ways to build healthy bones
At least 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L) is considered an adequate blood level to promote strong bones and overall health.
One study looked at 218 overweight and obese women over one year. All were put on a calorie-restricted diet and exercise routine. Half of the women received a vitamin D supplement, while the other half received a placebo.
At the end of the study, researchers found that women who fulfilled their vitamin D requirements experienced more weight loss, losing an average of 7 pounds (3.2 kg) more than the women who did not have adequate blood levels.
Another study provided overweight and obese women with vitamin D supplements for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, the women didn’t experience any weight loss, but they found that increasing vitamin D levels decreased body fat.
Vitamin D could also be associated with a decrease in weight gain.
A study in over 4,600 elderly women found that higher levels of vitamin D were linked to less weight gain between visits during the 4.5-year study.
In short, increasing your vitamin D intake may promote weight loss, although more research is needed before strong conclusions can be reached.
Summary: Getting adequate amounts of vitamin D may enhance weight loss, decrease body fat and limit weight gain.
How does vitamin D aid weight loss?
Several theories attempt to explain vitamin D’s effects on weight loss.
Studies show that vitamin D could potentially reduce the formation of new fat cells in the body.
It could also suppress the storage of fat cells, effectively reducing fat accumulation.
Vitamin D can also increase serotonin levels, a neurotransmitter affecting everything from mood to sleep regulation.
Serotonin may play a role in controlling your appetite, increasing satiety, reducing body weight, and decreasing calorie intake.
Suggested read: Vitamin D deficiency: Symptoms, treatments, causes and more
Finally, higher vitamin D levels may be associated with higher testosterone levels, triggering weight loss.
A 2011 study gave 165 men either vitamin D supplements or a placebo for one year. It found that those receiving the supplements experienced greater increases in testosterone levels than the control group.
Several studies have shown that higher testosterone levels can reduce body fat and help sustain long-term weight loss.
It boosts your metabolism, causing your body to burn more calories after eating. It could also block the formation of new fat cells in the body.
Summary: Vitamin D may aid weight loss by altering the storage and formation of fat cells and increasing serotonin and testosterone levels.
How much vitamin D do you need?
It’s recommended that adults 19–70 years old get at least 600 IU (15 mcg) of vitamin D daily.
However, supplementing with vitamin D may not be a “one size fits all” approach, as some research indicates that the dosage should be based on body weight.
One study adjusted vitamin D levels for body size and calculated that 32–36 IU per pound (70–80 IU/kg) is needed to maintain adequate levels.
Depending on your body weight, this amount may be significantly higher than the established upper limit of 4,000 IU per day.
On the other hand, doses of up to 10,000 IU per day have been reported with no adverse effects.
Still, vitamin D supplements can cause toxicity when consumed in large amounts. It’s best to consult your doctor before exceeding the upper limit of 4,000 IU per day.
Summary: The current recommendation for vitamin D is at least 600 IU per day. However, some studies suggest this should be based on body size at doses of 32–36 IU per pound (70-80 IU/kg) per day.
Summary
There’s an intricate relationship between vitamin D status and weight.
Getting enough vitamin D can keep your hormone levels in check and may help enhance weight loss and decrease body fat.
In turn, losing weight can increase vitamin D levels and help you maximize its other benefits, such as maintaining strong bones and protecting against illness.
If you get limited exposure to the sun or are at risk of deficiency, it may be a good idea to consider taking supplements.
Supplementing with vitamin D may help keep your weight under control and optimize your overall health.
