Correlation between Low Vitamin D and Weight Gain

Some studies conducted recently have shown a relationship between vitamin D and weight gain. This is because there is a correlation between the level of vitamin D in your body and success in weight loss that you would be able to achieve. A hormone released by vitamin D in the body called leptin signals the brain about when the body has achieved adequate nutrition. This is followed by a response from the brain which makes you stop eating.

Research has shown that with an increase in level of vitamin D, the participants lost more weight. The increase in lost weight was more by one-fourth of a pound to one-half, when the participants were on a low calorie diet. So, it is clear that with an increase in vitamin D in your diet, the weight lost is more.

Deficiency of vitamin D has been associated with various diseases which include diabetes, heart disease and cancer. This is because vitamin D helps to process the food in our bodies and regulate blood sugar level. When there is a deficiency of calcium, the body produces an enzyme known as synthase, which converts calories in the body to fat. Lack of calcium in the body can shoot up synthase production by up to 500 per cent. In this way, low levels of vitamin D and obesity are linked. Similarly, deficiency of vitamin D is linked to many diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

Lot of research still need to be undertaken to really get at the connection between vitamin D deficiency and risk of cancer. Mainstream research has only just begun to pursue this approach of investigation of cancer causes. In a clinical study, patients were found bound to wheelchairs as they suffered from chronic fatigue. After just six weeks of being supplemented with 50000 IU of vitamin every week, they recovered and became mobile. There have been some other similar studies in which it is found that once the vitamin D levels are brought to normal, many diseases are cured.

The current recommendations of vitamin D intake is for anywhere between 400 and 600 IU. Recent studies are suggesting that this is too low a figure for daily consumption of vitamin D. They suggest giving 4000 to 10000 IU of vitamin D to patients for therapeutic purposes, and also for boosting the health of patients and preventing other diseases. If there is no chance of getting sunlight, taking vitamin D3 supplements is the next option available.

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