Having inadequate levels of vitamin D may correlate with unintentional weight gain. A study on women over the age of 65 found that participants with a lower vitamin D level experienced more weight gain.
In fact, according to a Medical News Today article, an increase in overall body fat and low vitamin D seem to go hand in hand. If you're looking to lose weight, it's time to up your vitamin D intake, either through sun exposure and/or a high-quality supplement.
Low vitamin D and weight gain are related in other ways too – Studies have suggested that vitamin D plays a major role in releasing leptin, the hormone controlling the hunger senses and fat storage in the body. Vitamin D deficiency affects both senses, leading to weight gain.
When vitamin D levels are low and the body isn't able to properly absorb calcium and phosphorus, there is an increased risk of bone pain, bone fractures, muscle pain and muscle weakness. In older adults, severe vitamin D deficiency (levels less than 10 ng/mL) may also contribute to an increased risk of falls.
Hence, in the 2011 study, the researchers looked at supplementing vitamin D with calcium to overweight and obese adults. At the end of the research, the researchers concluded that the participants who took supplements lost significantly more stomach fat than people who did not [3].
There's no magic dosage of vitamin D to aid weight loss; rather, aim to reach an adequate level, which is greater than or equal to 20 nanograms per milliliter (which measures serum vitamin D in the body), per the NIH.
IBS and Vitamin D deficiency
Symptoms include a combination of diarrhoea or constipation, bloating, urgency (the need to use a restroom in a hurry), white or yellow mucus in the stool and the sensation of incompletely passing stools.
The most serious complications of vitamin D deficiency include: Low blood calcium levels (hypocalcemia). Low blood phosphate levels (hypophosphatemia). Rickets (softening of bones during childhood).
Higher levels of vitamin D may also be related to increased levels of testosterone. This is a well-known hormone that promotes muscle mass, strength, and flexibility. It's also thought to rev up metabolism, which could help you burn more calories and drop some pounds.
“Adding an over-the-counter vitamin D supplement can make improvements in just three to four months time. Vitamin D with a strength of 1000-2000 international units daily is the recommended dose for most adults,” Dr.
Vitamin D might make it harder for fat to form and be stored in your body. It may also increase your levels of serotonin, which can help you feel more full after eating and may help with weight management.
B-complex vitamins: These help metabolize carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, activating stored energy instead of letting it turn to fat. Niacin, vitamin B-6, and iron: This impressive trio increases your body's production of the amino acid L-carnitine to help burn fat.
Vitamin D stimulates hair follicles to grow, and so when the body does not have enough, the hair may be affected. A vitamin D deficiency may also be linked to alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that causes patchy hair loss.
When to take vitamin D. It just plain doesn't matter, as long as you take it with food, says Dr. Manson. Her advice: Take it when you'll remember to take it — morning, noon or night — and take it with a meal, she says.
Official answer. Generally, it takes a few weeks of taking daily vitamin D supplements for vitamin D levels in the body to rise. Each 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 taken daily is expected to raise blood levels of 25(OH)D by 10 ng/ml after a few weeks.
Magnesium is a critical factor in making Vitamin D bioavailable. Without magnesium present, Vitamin D is stored in the body and not used. The body depends on magnesium to convert Vitamin D into its active form within the body.
Sunlight is the best way to increase your Vitamin D levels naturally. Due to this reason, Vitamin D is sometimes referred to as "Sunshine Vitamin." To get the best out of it, you should spend atleast 15 to 20 minutes under the sun. Make sure the sunlight touches your skin for the designated amount of time.
Details. Use the CVS Health At Home Vitamin D Test Kit to get accurate and comprehensive results in the privacy and comfort of your own home. Simply collect your blood sample using this convenient kit, mail it to the lab, and receive your results through a secure online portal in just a few days.
According to the National Library of Medicine, vitamin D deficiency can lead to a loss of bone density, which can contribute to osteoporosis and fractures (broken bones). Severe vitamin D deficiency can also lead to other diseases.