In a recent study, researchers found that weight loss combined with vitamin D supplements could help reduce chronic inflammation.
The benefit is stronger than weight loss alone.
The research was conducted by a team from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
Chronic inflammation can contribute to the development and progression of several diseases, including some cancers.
Previous research has shown that people can reduce their overall levels of inflammation by losing weight.
Research also has shown that taking vitamin D supplements could have a similar beneficial effect in people with vitamin D deficiency.
However, it is unknown if combining weight loss and vitamin D would further boost this health effect.
In the current study, the team examined more than 200 overweight, postmenopausal women who had vitamin D deficiency at the beginning of the study.
The women then took part in a 12-month diet and exercise program, in which they performed 45 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise five days a week.
Half of the study participants received 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily, and the other half received an identical-appearing placebo or dummy vitamin.
The team found that at the end of the program all women had reduced levels of inflammation, regardless of whether they took vitamin D.
This highlights the importance of weight loss in reducing inflammation.
However, women who took vitamin D and lost 5% to 10% of their weight had the strongest decline in inflammation.
These study participants had a 37% reduction in a pro-inflammatory cytokine called interleukin-6.
Previous studies have found that elevated levels of this substance are linked to a higher risk of developing certain cancers, depression, and diabetes.
The finding suggests vitamin D can augment the effect of weight loss on inflammation.
The team suggests that women need to speak to their health care providers about measuring their levels of vitamin D to determine the most appropriate dosage.
This is the first study to test if adding vitamin D could increase the effect of weight loss on inflammatory biomarkers.
The lead author is Catherine Duggan, Ph.D.
The study is published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research.
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