BMI decreased by Vitamin D (none of the trials used enough D for long enough) – meta-analysis

Is Vitamin D Supplementation Useful for Weight Loss Programs? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Medicina 2019, 55(7), 368; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina55070368

Simone Perna

Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Bahrain, Sakhir Campus P. O. Box 32038, Bahrain

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Vitamin D in Obesity)

To lose weight many studies have found the need to: 1. Take a minimum of 4,000 IU daily average 1. Take it weekly or bi-weekly, not daily 1. Take it for at least 4 months 1. Have Vitamin D be a part of an exercise and/or calorie reduction program * Daily, monthly Vitamin D had similar great benefits, more than 6 months needed – RCT Dec 2018 * Obese lost more weight on diet if added 50,000 IU of vitamin D weekly – many RCTs * Lost 19 lbs more if add vitamin D to calorie restriction and walking program– July 2018 * Overweight and obese lost 12 lbs with vitamin D in 6 months– RCT May 2015 * Obesity not reduced with 7,000 IU vitamin D daily – April 2013 --- Obesity is associated with low Vitamin D (and treated by D as well) – Aug 2019 has the following {include}

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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.