Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. In 63 obese women, those deficient in calcium and overweight lost 13 lbs in 15 weeks when supplemented with vitamin D and calcium compared to a 2 lb loss in the non supplemented group.
It is currently estimated that more than two-thirds of US adults are classified as overweight or obese (having a BMI of 30 or higher) (1). Since the National Health Examination Survey I (NHANES I) data was first collected in 1962, the prevalence of being overweight and obese has increased by 40% in men and nearly 50% in women (2). There are numerous health complications from being overweight or obese, including nearly all chronic diseases: heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, stroked, arthritis, and liver and gallbladder diseases (3). Now a new study (7) has found that calcium, recently recommended to help weight management in children (8), may help with weight loss in adults.
The study involved 63 obese women, defined as having a BMI greater than 30 kg/m2. The women were put on either a 15-week weight reduction program (consuming less than 2900 calories per day) coupled with calcium (600 mg twice per day) plus vitamin D supplementation (200 IU vitamin D twice per day) or placebo (weight-reduction diet with no supplementation).
The researchers found that while there was no statistically significant increase in weight loss overall in the patients compared to placebo, there was one group that did experience statistically significant weight loss. This was a subgroup of women whose intake of calcium was less than 600 mg per day. There were seven women in the supplement group and six women in the placebo group with this intake. Those in the supplement group lost more than 13 pounds over the 15 weeks, while those in the placebo group lost just over 2 pounds. Although the numbers in the subgroup were quite small, this study could lead to expanded testing and helpful information for those who are deficient in calcium.
Although the researchers concluded that “Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and fat mass loss in female very low-calcium consumers” and that there is a “potential link with a calcium-specific appetite control”, calcium’s effect on appetite was not directly measured in the study so it remains to be decided just how the calcium produced the weight loss in those deficient in the study.
Source: Major, Geneviève C., et al. “Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and fat mass loss in female very low-calcium consumers: potential link with a calcium-specific appetite control.” British journal of nutrition 101.5 (2008): 659-663.
© The Authors 2008
Posted May 6, 2009.
References:
- Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Curtin LR, McDowell MA, Tabak CJ, Flegal KM. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States, 1999–2004. JAMA. 2006;295:1549–55.
- Ruhm CJ. Current and future prevalence of obesity and severe obesity in the United States. National Bureau of Economic Research, Working Paper No. 13181, 2007. Available from: the National Bureau of Economic Research website.
- “Introduction: Overweight and Obesity” posted on the Centers for Disease Control website.
- Howarth NC. Dietary Fiber and Fat Are Associated with Excess Weight in Young and Middle-Aged US Adults. J Am Diet Assoc. 2005 Sep;105(9):1365-72.
- Sorenson LB. Effect of sucrose on inflammatory markers in overweight humans.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Aug;82(2):421-7. - Gaullier, J. M., J. Halse, et al. (2005). “Supplementation with conjugated linoleic Acid for 24 months is well tolerated by and reduces body fat mass in healthy, overweight humans.” J Nutr 135(4): 778-84.
- Geneviève C. Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and fat mass loss in female very low-calcium consumers: potential link with a calcium-specific appetite control British Journal of Nutrition 2009; 101 (5):5659-663.
- Skinner, J.D., et al., Longitudinal calcium intake is negatively related to children’s body fat indexes. J Am Diet Assoc, 2003. 103(12): p. 1626-31.
