Taking a vitamin D supplement may help you lose weight

Vitamin D has so many benefits: it strengthens your bones, improves your mood and boosts your immune system.

There are plenty of good reasons to make sure you get adequate levels of this important vitamin. New research has uncovered the fact that having optimal levels of vitamin D in your blood makes weight loss easier. This should provide good motivation for those who forget to take their nutritional supplements regularly.

Research in the past has shown that people who are low in vitamin D are more likely to be overweight. A new study conducted at the University of Milan recruited 400 overweight and obese individuals with vitamin D deficiency. Everyone was placed on a low calorie diet and then divided into one of three groups. One didn’t take a vitamin D supplement; the other two groups took either 25,000 international units (IU) or 100,000 IU of vitamin D per month.

After six months the two groups who took a vitamin D supplement lost more weight than the group that didn’t. They also achieved a slimmer waist. This is a significant finding, considering at least 40 percent of Americans are vitamin D deficient.

If you have been struggling to lose weight, perhaps a vitamin D supplement would make it easier. It is best to see your doctor and ask for a vitamin D blood test, to determine an appropriate dose for you.

Reference: European Congress on Obesity News Release, May 7 2015