One of the complications of excess weight is that it contributes to chronic inflammation. Higher levels of inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 are linked to diabetes and some cancers.
Investigators at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center studied the effect of adding vitamin D3 to a weight loss program on interleukin-6 levels. The study included over 200 healthy overweight postmenopausal women. Their levels of circulating vitamin D were below the recommended amount of 32 ng/ml.
Adding Vitamin D3 to the Weight Loss Program
The women were assigned to do 45 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise five days a week. Half received 2,000 IUs of vitamin D3 daily while the other half were randomly assigned to take placebo.
At the end of the study markers of inflammation were lower in both groups. Exercise and weight loss do make a difference on inflammation.
Those who lost 5 to 10 percent of their baseline weight and also took vitamin D3 had the biggest drop in interleukin-6 levels. The authors conclude that vitamin D can augment the benefit of weight loss on chronic inflammation.
Cancer Prevention Research, July, 2015
This research underscores the wisdom of our grandmothers urging us to go out and play. In those days, vitamin D3 supplements were not widely available, so most vitamin D came from sun exposure. In these times, allowing a prudent amount of sunlight on the skin can supplement a vitamin D3 pill.
