Search Here

A new study published in the Journal of Women's Health suggests that low vitamin D levels may be linked to weight gain in some older women.

Researchers looked at 4,659 women over the age of 65 for about five years and concluded that those with insufficient levels of Vitamin D in their blood gained about two pounds more than those with adequate levels of the vitamin.

Erin LeBlanc, MD, an endocrinologist and researcher at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, Oregon is the study's author.

"This is one of the first studies to show that women with low levels of Vitamin D gain more weight, and although it was only two pounds, over time that can add up," LeBlanc said in a news release. "Nearly 80 percent of women in our study had insufficient levels of Vitamin D. A primary source of this important vitamin is sunlight, and as modern societies move indoors, continuous Vitamin D insufficiency may be contributing to chronic weight gain."

Approximately 60 percent of the women in the study remained within five percent of their starting weight over the study period. Twenty-seven percent lost more than five percent of their body weight, and 12 percent gained more than five percent of their body weight.

Of the women in the study, 78 percent had less than 30 nanograms per millimeter of Vitamin D in their blood-the level defined as sufficient by The Endocrine Society panel of experts who set clinical guidelines on Vitamin D deficiency. Of the 571 women who gained weight, those with insufficient Vitamin D levels gained more-18.5 pounds over five years-than women who had sufficient Vitamin D. The latter group gained 16.4 pounds over the same period.

Recently, the US Preventive Services Task Force said healthy postmenopausal women may need higher doses of the vitamin to prevent fractures, and that there isn't enough evidence to recommend the supplements for younger people.

LeBlanc said because of the lack of certain evidence, patients should get advice on Vitamin D supplements from their own health care provider.

"Our study only shows an association between insufficient levels of Vitamin D and weight gain, we would need to do more studies before recommending the supplements to keep people from gaining weight," LeBlanc said. "Since there are so many conflicting recommendations about taking Vitamin D for any reason, it's best if patients get advice from their own health care provider."