Vitamin B12 plays a major role in energy metabolism in the body. It comes in three active forms: methylcobalamin, adenosylcobalamin, and hydroxocobalamin. Studies show that administration of vitamin B12 over several months can lead to an increase in appetite for those who are deficient in the vitamin.
Up your nutrient intake
Consider supplementing with zinc, vitamin B1 and fish oils, which have all been found to help stimulate appetite.
Ghrelin is a hormone that is produced and released mainly by the stomach with small amounts also released by the small intestine, pancreas and brain. Ghrelin has numerous functions. It is termed the 'hunger hormone' because it stimulates appetite, increases food intake and promotes fat storage.
Appetite stimulants containing corticosteroids are fairly common and are known for making you gain weight.
Exercise lightly before meals to stimulate appetite. Even a short walk may be invigorating. Select enjoyable foods and foods that have a pleasant aroma. Plan meals the day before eating them.
Make sure to include plenty of nutrient dense foods in your diet such as dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and beans along with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein sources. And eat frequently. To gain weight, you need to eat more frequently than someone who is trying to lose weight.
Studies show that a B12 deficiency can sometimes result in a loss of appetite. If you take a B12 supplement to treat this deficiency, you may experience an increase in appetite, but that's really a restoration of a normal level. In general, for healthy people, taking B12 neither increases nor decreases appetite.
Thiamin, or vitamin B1, helps to release energy from foods, promotes normal appetite, and plays a role in muscle contraction and conduction of nerve signals.
It is believed that the hypothalamus will increase appetite and reduce energy expenditure due to low circulating levels of calcidiol due to vitamin D deficiency. These adjustments are made through the transcription pathways of the Neuropeptide Y (NPY) or Agouti related protein (AgRP) (24, 25).
Contrary to popular belief, these supplements do not cause weight gain. In fact, having higher levels of magnesium in the body can facilitate weight loss and aid in maintaining a healthy physique. Conversely, low levels of magnesium may impede fat-burning processes.
Vitamin D deficiency is linked to many disease processes. It also plays a role in weight gain. If you're struggling with weight loss, there's a very good chance you're also struggling to store adequate amounts of vitamin D in your body. How do you know if you're deficient in vitamin D?
It may be that you have a fast metabolism (meaning your body burns energy from food at a fast rate than the people around you) or you're just naturally slender. For some people, underlying health conditions and certain medications and treatments can make it difficult to reach and/or maintain a healthy weight.
Some people have trouble gaining weight because their metabolism burns food too rapidly. Such people need to ensure that their calorie intake throughout the day is higher than the amount of calories they burn.
Ghrelin is a multifaceted gut hormone which activates its receptor, growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R). Ghrelin's hallmark functions are its stimulatory effects on food intake, fat deposition and growth hormone release. Ghrelin is famously known as the “hunger hormone”.
People can experience a loss of appetite for a wide range of reasons. Some of these are short-term, including colds, food poisoning, other infections, or the side effects of medication. Others are to do with long-term medical conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, or life-limiting illnesses.
Add fortified milk to tea and coffee. Make Ovaltine, Horlicks or hot chocolate with fortified milk.. Choose fruit juice or diluting juice with added Vitamin C and aim for 1-2 glasses a day. Build Up or Complan type drinks can be useful.
Eat food rich in carbohydrates like parathas, a plate full of brown rice, whole milk, eggs, potatoes, full-fat curd, etc. These give your body the energy it needs to gain weight. Foods that are high in fat are difficult to digest and thus can slow down your metabolism, so consume food rich in carbohydrates only.