HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

Vitamin D, Weight Loss, and Heart Health

Study Abstract

Background: High blood concentrations of parathyroid hormone and low concentrations of the vitamin D metabolites 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and calcitriol are considered new cardiovascular disease risk markers. However, there is also evidence that calcitriol increases lipogenesis and decreases lipolysis.

Objective: We investigated the effect of vitamin D on weight loss and traditional and nontraditional cardiovascular disease risk markers in overweight subjects.

Design: Healthy overweight subjects (n = 200) with mean 25(OH)D concentrations of 30 nmol/L (12 ng/mL) received vitamin D (83 µg/d) or placebo in a double-blind manner for 12 mo while participating in a weight-reduction program.

Results: Weight loss was not affected significantly by vitamin D supplementation (–5.7 ± 5.8 kg) or placebo (–6.4 ± 5.6 kg). However, mean 25(OH)D and calcitriol concentrations increased by 55.5 nmol/L and 40.0 pmol/L, respectively, in the vitamin D group but by only 11.8 nmol/L and 9.3 pmol/L, respectively, in the placebo group (P < 0.001), whereas a more pronounced decrease occurred in the vitamin D group than in the placebo group in blood concentrations of parathyroid hormone (–26.5% compared with –18.7%; P = 0.014), triglycerides (–13.5% compared with +3.0%; P < 0.001), and the inflammation marker tumor necrosis factor- (–10.2% compared with –3.2%; P = 0.049). The beneficial biochemical effects were independent of the loss in body weight, fat mass, and sex. However, compared with placebo, vitamin D supplementation also increased LDL-cholesterol concentrations (+5.4% compared with –2.5%; P < 0.001).

Conclusions: The results indicate that a vitamin D supplement of 83 µg/d does not adversely affect weight loss and is able to significantly improve several cardiovascular disease risk markers in overweight subjects with inadequate vitamin D status participating in a weight-reduction program. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00493012.

Study Information

Armin Zittermann, Sabine Frisch, Heiner K Berthold, Christian Götting, Joachim Kuhn, Knut Kleesiek, Peter Stehle, Heinrich Koertke and Reiner Koerfer
Vitamin D supplementation enhances the beneficial effects of weight loss on cardiovascular disease risk markers.
Am J Clin Nutr
2009 May
Klinik für Thorax- und Kardiovaskularchirurgie and Institut für Laboratoriums- und Transfusionsmedizin, Herzzentrum NRW, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany.