Combination of weight loss and Vitamin D can reduce
chronic inflammation, revealed a new study. For the very first time,
researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center found this by analyzing
more than 200 obese postmenopausal women who had low levels of Vitamin D in
Vitamin D is responsible to regulate calcium levels
and bone metabolism in humans. The study focusses on establishing the
nutrient's ability in controlling chronic inflammation which is associated with
cancer, cardiovascular health and
Inflammation is a response by the body's immune system
when the host comes in contact with a foreign body like bacteria, virus etc.
Chronic inflammation occurs mostly in obese people as the body produces
cytokines continually as a response against the antigen. Cytokines are cell
signaling molecules that are associated with the immune system for acting
against an infection.
When cytokines are produced uncontrollably, it induces
malignant cell transformation in the surrounding tissue which is nothing but a
tumor or cancer. Thus chronic inflammation
can trigger cancer and
also many chronic diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to control the
production of cytokines in obese people.
Previous studies have shown that weight loss can help
reduce the levels of inflammation and Vitamin D can also do the same in people
with low levels of this nutrient. Therefore researchers have analyzed both
these factors by combining them to see if it boosts their effect on obese
"It's the first study to test whether adding
vitamin D augments the considerable effect of weight loss on inflammatory
biomarkers," said Dr. Catherine Duggan, lead author of the study.
Duggan and her colleagues from Fred Hutchinson Cancer
Research Center studied about 200 overweight, postmenopausal women who had
insufficient levels of vitamin D. For the very first time they analyzed that
weight loss in combination with vitamin D had greater effects in reducing
chronic inflammation than weight loss alone.
Researchers analyzed 218 obese, older women who had
less than recommended levels of vitamin D in their body (less than 32 ng/mL).
They also underwent a rigorous diet and exercise program for 12 months that
included 45 minutes vigorous physical activity for five days a week. Half the
study population was given 2000 IU of vitamin D daily and other half received a
placebo or dummy vitamin for one year.
They found that all participants had reduced levels of
inflammation regardless of the vitamin intake. The participants who took
vitamin D had 37% reduction in a cytokine called interleukin-6 (IL-6) as
compared to only 17.2% reduction in the placebo group.
"While IL-6 has normal functions in the body, elevated
levels are associated with an increased risk of developing certain cancers and
diabetes and may be implicated as a cause of depression", said Duggan.
Thus the study concluded that vitamin D had an effect
on inflammation biomarker only among women who lost at least 5% of their
baseline weight. This suggests that vitamin D can augment the effect of weight
loss on inflammation.
"Weight loss reduces inflammation, and thus
represents another mechanism for reducing cancer risk. If ensuring that vitamin
D levels are replete, or at an optimum level, can decrease inflammation over
and above that of weight loss alone, that can be an important addition to the
tools people can use to reduce their cancer risk," said Duggan.
The authors also encouraged women to speak openly to
their health care providers to measure their levels of vitamin D for
determining the most appropriate dosage.