Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 30, 2026
10:46
A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data
Published on: December 9, 2015
11.2K
25-Hydroxyvitamin D Supplementation and BMI Change: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
1Public Health Program, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Journal of Obesity & Weight Loss Therapy
|January 30, 2015
Summary
Vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) supplementation does not significantly alter body mass index (BMI) changes in adults. This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found no statistically significant impact on weight change from vitamin D.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- The relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) supplementation and weight change is debated.
- Existing research provides conflicting evidence regarding the efficacy of vitamin D in modulating Body Mass Index (BMI).
- A comprehensive summary of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is needed to clarify the impact of 25[OH]D on BMI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a meta-analysis of published clinical trials to evaluate the effect of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) supplementation on BMI change.
- To synthesize findings from RCTs investigating cholecalciferol or ergocalciferol supplementation and their association with BMI.
- To provide a statistically robust conclusion on whether 25[OH]D supplementation influences weight change.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of English-language articles from January 1, 1998, to January 1, 2013, using MEDLINE (Ovid, Pubmed).
- Inclusion criteria focused on RCTs examining 25[OH]D supplementation and its effect on BMI.
- A random effects model was employed to estimate the association between 25[OH]D and mean BMI change across 9 selected studies involving 1651 adults.
Main Results:
- Nine studies, encompassing 1651 adult participants (82.6% women, mean age 47.9 years), were included in the meta-analysis.
- Mean follow-up ranged from 6 to 196 weeks, with daily 25[OH]D doses varying from 200 to 1,110 IU.
- The meta-analysis revealed no statistically significant difference in BMI change between the 25[OH]D supplementation and control groups.
Conclusions:
- Based on the available published trials, oral 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) supplementation does not appear to significantly impact BMI change.
- The findings suggest that vitamin D supplementation alone is unlikely to be an effective strategy for weight management in adults.
- Further research may be warranted to explore potential interactions or specific subpopulations where vitamin D might influence weight.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis
The skin plays a crucial role in the synthesis of vitamin D, a vital nutrient for various physiological processes in the body. Vitamin D is unique because it can be synthesized in the skin through a series of chemical reactions triggered by exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight.
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin D3(cholecalciferol).
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin D3(cholecalciferol).
01:25Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health
The growth and maintenance of bone are regulated by a combination of nutritional factors, including vitamins, such as vitamin A, B12, C, D, and K.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is involved in the process of bone remodeling. Retinoic acid, the active metabolite of Vitamin A, has nuclear receptors in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are involved in bone remodeling.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 acts as a cofactor during the formation of osteoblast-related proteins, such as osteocalcin. Vitamin B12 plays a role...
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is involved in the process of bone remodeling. Retinoic acid, the active metabolite of Vitamin A, has nuclear receptors in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are involved in bone remodeling.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 acts as a cofactor during the formation of osteoblast-related proteins, such as osteocalcin. Vitamin B12 plays a role...
01:24Obesity
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
01:21Drug Dosing: Obese Patients
In the United States, obesity is a prominent concern. It is linked to heightened mortality rates due to increased occurrences of conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and diabetes compared to nonobese individuals. A patient is classified as obese if their actual body weight surpasses the ideal or desirable body weight by 20%, based on Metropolitan Life Insurance Company data. Ideal body weights consider average weights and heights for males and females...