Low Vitamin D and Weight Gain

Numerous researches have been done in order to find out if there was a connection between low vitamin D and weight gain. Vitamin D is extremely important for normal growth and development of the human body. It takes part in building strong bones, and it is very important for strong immune system. According to recent researches, vitamin D can be helpful in preventing various diseases. It is also used as a part of treatment for some types of cancer, multiple sclerosis and osteoporosis. Vitamin D is also included in weight-loss diets. Let us see how vitamin D and weight gain are connected with each other.

What Is Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency is a condition that occurs when vitamin D levels get too low. In the beginning, there are no any symptoms, but once vitamin D levels become extremely low, the symptoms will start occurring.

Vitamin D deficiency symptoms include:

● Fatigue
● Muscle pain
● Bone fragility
● Tooth delay in babies
● Rickets in toddlers
● Osteomalacia
● Osteoporosis

● People who have problems with high blood pressure and have low levels of vitamin D, can have problems with controlling hypertension.

● High cholesterol levels in blood can also result from vitamin D deficiency.

● Low levels of vitamin D cannot cause diabetes, but it can cause other problems that are related to this disease. In people who already have diabetes, this condition can become even worse if vitamin D levels are low.

● The risk factors are usually related to age, certain diseases and limited sun exposure. However, it seems that obesity is somehow related to vitamin D deficiency.

Low Vitamin D and Weight Gain

Obese people are likely to have low levels of vitamin D. It is still unclear which one comes first – obesity or vitamin D deficiency, but it is certain that these two problems are related. There was a research about this and it involved women who were trying to lose weight. This research has shown that women whose levels of vitamin D had been low before they went on a weight-loss diet had difficulties losing weight. Women whose vitamin D levels had been normal before they started a weight-loss diet seemed to have no problems with losing excessive weight.

Another problem can result from obesity. Too much fat in the body can prevent the body from using vitamin D. That is another example of how obesity can affect vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D is naturally found in some foods, like egg yolk, animal meat, fish oil and dairy products. The quantities of vitamin D found in these foods are not large enough to meet your daily needs, but they are helpful anyway. That is why vegetarians are at higher risk of becoming deficient in vitamin D. However, some fortified foods (that are not animal-derived) can be a good source of vitamin D for vegetarians.

The best source of vitamin D is sunlight. If you don’t spend time in the sun, you probably lack vitamin D. During summer, most people manage to get enough vitamin D. However, problems can occur during winter, when there is no sun outside. During the winter months, vitamin D supplements are the best way to get enough vitamin D. Before you decide to use any supplements, talk to your doctor and have your vitamin D levels checked. Your dosage will depend on your condition, and other factors, like your age, other diseases (if you have any), etc. Another important factor is the climate you live in. If you live in a cold weather country, your vitamin D dosage will probably be higher, simply because you cannot get enough sunlight, and supplements will be the only reliable source of vitamin D for you.