It’s no secret thatvitamin D is a critical nutrientfor supporting good health. It’s involved in everything from building strong bones and teeth to fighting infections andreducing inflammation. While you can get some of the vitamin D you need from sunlight and certain foods, it’s common to takevitamin D supplementsto help ensure adequate intake.
However, a new study published January 17, 2023, inNutrition,Obesity,andExerciseof the JAMA Network indicates that your body weight may impact the efficacy of vitamin D supplements. Specifically, the study found thatindividuals with a BMI higher than 25 process and absorb vitamin D differently, which could prevent them from reaping vitamin D’s many health benefits.
“The analysis […] found that vitamin D supplementation correlated with positive effects on several health outcomes, but only among people with a body mass index (BMI) under 25,” said study authorDeirdre Tobias, ScD, an associate epidemiologist in Brigham’sDivision of Preventive Medicine, in amedia release. “There seems to be something different happening with vitamin D metabolism at higher body weights, and this study may help explain diminished outcomes of supplementation for individuals with an elevated BMI.”
It should be noted thatbody mass index(BMI) is a measure that’s often used in healthcare to determine a person’s body weight category such as overweight or obese, and therefore, chronic disease risk. However, it has limitations and does not account for individual factors that influence one’s health status, such as body composition, ethnicity, race, sex and age. This is why it shouldn’t be used as a comprehensive measure of someone’s health andcan be a source of body size stigma and bias.
These findings are timely, considering42% of U.S. adultsare categorized as having obesity andover one-third of American adultshave avitamin D deficiency. Keep reading to learn more about this study that revealed an association between your weight and low vitamin D levels.
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What the Study Found
Researchers at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA, analyzed data from theVITAL trial, a comprehensive nationwide clinical trial that looked at whether taking vitamin D or marineomega-3 supplementscould lower the risk of developing cancer,heart diseaseor stroke. To examine the correlation between vitamin D levels and BMI, the researchers looked at baseline blood samples of 16,515 participants from the VITAL trial, plus another 2,742 follow-up blood samples taken after two years. From these samples, they determined the participants' total vitamin D status, along with metabolites, calcium and parathyroid hormone—other biomarkers that help your body use vitamin D effectively.
However, this study has some drawbacks. “A main limitation with a study like this with a follow-up of two years is just adherence from participants to taking the supplementation provided,” states Sarah Schlichter, M.P.H., RDN, a registered dietitian atBucket List Tummy. “Other confounding factors may explain the reduced uptake, such as impaired vitamin D receptor sensitivity in individuals with higher BMIs. There may also be other explanations for people with cancer and other chronic diseases that may better explain the lower vitamin D serum levels.”
The Bottom Line
A new study conducted at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that individuals with a BMI of 30 or greater are more likely to have a vitamin D deficiency due to malabsorption. In addition, these individuals are less likely to correct a vitamin D deficiency with vitamin D supplements than those with a BMI of 25 or lower. These findings should encourage people tomaintain a healthy weightsince vitamin D is an essential nutrient critical for many aspects of overall health. If you want to learn more, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian about healthy weight management and taking vitamin D supplements.
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