Vitamin D Deficiency Can'T Lose Weight

A recent study found that Vitamin D supplementation can decrease body mass index (BMI) significantly. An expert on how you can get more Vitamin D and why sunlight may not be a sufficient source of the essential vitamin for many.

Vitamin D play a big role in our overall health. Not only it plays an important role in absorption of calcium and improving bone health, tissue health, colon health but also takes care of immunity. Vitamin D deficiency can affect us in myriad ways. It can put us at an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD) as well as high blood pressure and obesity. Obesity can further give rise to a host of chronic diseases. A recent study found out that after using Vitamin D supplementation for 6 weeks, WT, WC, and body mass index (BMI) were decreased in people significantly and serum Vit D increased significantly. (Also read: Vitamin D deficiency: 7 reasons your Vitamin D levels are low; signs to watch out for)

Sunshine Vitamin aka Vitamin D is a steroid hormone that our body produces from cholesterol when our skin is exposed to the UVB rays of the sun.

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Sunshine Vitamin aka Vitamin D is a steroid hormone that our body produces from cholesterol when our skin is exposed to the UVB rays of the sun. A perfect gift from nature, as vitamin D is necessary for stronger immunity, proper bone health, building muscles, reversing insulin resistance, reducing joint pain, preventing cancer, reducing weight etc, says Ridhima Batra, Clinical Dietitian, Certified Diabetic Educator, Specialist Sports Nutritionist and founder of Nutrition Defined.

Vitamin D can only be synthesised with UVB rays. When these rays are absorbed into our skin, it converts into a previtamin D3 (an inactive form) which further in the liver and kidney is converted into the active form of vitamin D3. Since it's a fat-soluble vitamin, it can be stored in your body for a long time, says Batra.

But is exposure to sunlight enough for our daily Vitamin D requirements. The answer is - not for all. People who don't have access to proper sunlight, older people or people with darker skin tones face difficulty in meeting Vitamin D levels because of high melanin (a compound that protects against skin damage) as this reduces the amount of UVB light absorbed in the skin. Overweight and obese people also need more Vitamin D depending on their body size.

Vitamin D Dose For Dark Skin

Foods that one should include for Vitamin D are fatty fish, seaweeds, algae, egg yolk, mushrooms, cod liver oil, spirulina and fortified foods like milk, tofu, yoghurt, orange juice, cheese etc.

For oral supplementation, it's absolutely safe to take 1000 IU per day. However, do check with your doctor or dietitian on the proper dosage and duration as an excess amount of vitamin D in the body can also lead to toxicity.

As per studies, vitamin D can potentially reduce the formation of new fat cells in the body and can also suppress the storage of fat cells effectively reducing fat accumulation.

Vitamins For Weight Loss: Can They Really Help?

Vitamin D can increase the levels of serotonin (a neurotransmitter that affects everything from mood to sleep regulation) and testosterone levels that play a significant role in boosting your metabolism, causing your body to burn more calories, controlling appetite, increasing satiety, reducing body fat and sustaining long-term weight loss, says Batra.

So if you suspect low vitamin D levels, and are experiencing symptoms like fatigue, insomnia, bone pain, depression, hair loss or muscle weakness, consider getting your blood test done to rule out a deficiency.A vitamin D deficiency could be the reason why you’re not losing weight. Here’s how If you have been working out regularly to lose weight, but have been unsuccessful in your endeavours—then read about the role vitamin D has to play.

In our newfound obsession with fitness, everyone is ready to go to any length to lose weight. While eating clean, home-cooked meals and a consistent exercise routine of 30-45 minutes (three to five days a week) can promise long-lasting effects—sometimes, the results you’re expecting simply fail to show up. Even if you’ve been playing by the rules.

Vitamin D And Your Health: Breaking Old Rules, Raising New Hopes

Now, if you’ve been stuck in this situation, where nothing seems to be shrinking that waist or booty, you’ve got to introspect more deeply instead of jumping on to a fad diet.

Well, we got in touch with Avni Kaul, nutritionist, wellness coach, and founder of NutriActivania, Delhi to decode the mystery behind why you’re unable to lose weight despite trying so hard. Here is what she has to say:

“One of the reasons of this problem could be that the person is eating healthy but in larger portions. Hence, meal portions need to be controlled in order to achieve results. Secondly, they could be leaving long gaps between their meals. But, most importantly they could be having a deficiency of some vitamin or mineral, like vitamin D, which could be putting their weight-loss efforts to waste.”

Unexplained Weight Gain In Past Few Months Could Be Due To Vitamin D Deficiency

“The deficiency of vitamin D is an important factor here. Studies have found that when there is a sufficient level of vitamin D in your body, it is easier to lose weight, ” says Kaul.

And it states: women with an adequate amount of vitamin D in their bodies experience more weight loss compared to those who were vitamin-D deficient.

It’s time to understand the importance of the sunshine vitamin in your life, especially when it comes to weight loss. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

Large Weight Loss Can Mean Significant Vitamin D Gain

While testosterone is known to reduce body fat and promote weight loss by boosting your metabolism and blocking the formation of new fat cells; serotonin can decrease your appetite and calorie intake by making feel satiated for longer as well as by regulating your sleep pattern.

“There aren’t too many food sources of vitamin D. And even though sunlight exposure of 15-20 minutes can fulfil your vitamin D requirements, the application of sunscreens for protecting the skin from the harmful UV rays of the sun as well as of several make-up products hinder the absorption of this nutrient, ” she says.

Changing lifestyles, which include odd working hours—especially during the night—and covering your body to prevent a tan while going out can also lead to lesser absorption of vitamin D from the sun.

Vitamin D: Benefits, Nutrition Sources, Deficiency And Intake

For the sake of weight loss as well as for calcium absorption to ensure strong bone health and smooth-running of your other bodily functions, it is imperative to up your vitamin D intake so as to eliminate its deficiency and the several health consequences of it.

“The best and the most natural way to get vitamin D is to be in the sun for a minimum of 15-20 minutes daily. If for any reason that’s not possible, then try to include vitamin-D-rich foods such as mushrooms, egg yolks, cow/soy milk, and orange juice in your diet, ” Kaul recommends.

“Fortified cereals and milk and fish are also rich sources of vitamin D, ” she adds and suggests that if necessary, you can take a vitamin D supplement as well to fulfil your nutritional requirement.

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Just like everything else in life, the role of maintaining a healthy balance is important in case of vitamin D as well. Hence, ensure that you don’t go overboard with its consumption because an excess of vitamin D can cause side-effects such as a toxic build-up of calcium in your blood, nausea, vomiting, and bone and kidney complications. So talk to your physician before taking a vitamin D supplement and remember that moderation is the key.

About the Author Sonakshi Kohli Twenty kilos down and struggling to maintain the weight loss by preaching healthy eating, while eating unhealthy every now and then. ...Read MoreVitamin D deficiency is a common vitamin deficiency that causes issues with your bones and muscles. It most commonly affects people over the age of 65 and people who have darker skin. It’s preventable and treatable.

Vitamin D deficiency means you don’t have enough vitamin D in your body. It primarily causes issues with your bones and muscles.

Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that your body uses for normal bone development and maintenance. Vitamin D also plays a role in your nervous system, musculoskeletal system and immune system.

Vitamin D is one of many vitamins your body needs to stay healthy. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of calcium in your blood and bones and in building and maintaining bones.

With chronic and/or severe vitamin D deficiency, a decline in calcium and phosphorus absorption by your intestines leads to hypocalcemia (low calcium levels in your blood). This leads to secondary hyperparathyroidism (overactive parathyroid glands attempting to keep blood calcium levels normal).

What Are The 14 Signs Of Vitamin D Deficiency?

To try to balance calcium levels in your blood (via secondary hyperparathyroidism), your body takes calcium from your bones, which leads to accelerated bone demineralization (when a bone breaks down faster than it can reform).

Osteomalacia and osteoporosis put you at an increased risk for bone fractures. Rickets is the same as osteomalacia, but it only affects children. Since a child’s bones are still growing, demineralization causes bowed or bent bones.

Vitamin D deficiency may be more common in people with higher skin melanin

Belly Fat Linked To Vitamin D Deficiency