Vitamin D supplements can promote weight loss in obese children

According to a study presented today at the 57th annual meeting of the European Society of Pediatric Endocrinology, vitamin D supplements could promote weight loss and reduce risk factors for future heart and metabolic diseases in children overweight and obese. These findings indicate that simple supplementation with vitamin D can be part of an effective strategy to combat childhood obesity and reduce the risk of serious health problems, such as heart disease, in adulthood.

Obesity in childhood and adolescence represents a major health problem worldwide, which leads to costly, serious and debilitating complications, including heart disease and diabetes, later on in life. Although a vitamin D deficiency is usually associated with impaired bone health, in recent years it has been increasingly associated with an accumulation of body fat and obesity. However, the effect of vitamin D supplementation on weight and health of obese children and adolescents had not yet been studied.

In this study, Dr. Christos Giannios, Professor Evangelia Charmandari and colleagues from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Athens and the Aghia Sophia Pediatric Hospital of Athens evaluated 232 obese children and adolescents older than 12 months. supplementation, in accordance with the Endocrine Society's guidelines on the treatment and prevention of deficiencies. Vitamin D levels, body fat and blood markers of liver function and heart health were assessed early in the study and 12 months later. The study indicated that children receiving vitamin D supplements had significantly lower body mass index, body fat, and cholesterol levels after 12 months of supplementation.

"These supplements suggest that a simple vitamin D supplementation may reduce the risk of overweight and metabolic complications occurring in obese and obese children," says Professor Charmandari.

The team is now considering studying the effects of vitamin D supplementation on the health of obese children and adolescents who already have unhealthy conditions such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar and a high blood sugar. high cholesterol level. and diabetes.

Professor Charmandari warns: "Although these early results indicate that vitamin D could be used in the treatment of obesity, there is still evidence on the safety and long-term effects of supplementation, especially in cases of Vitamin D deficiency. If your child is overweight or obese, I recommend that you consult your doctor for advice and consider testing your vitamin D level. "

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More information:
The study "Effect of vitamin D supplementation on the metabolic syndrome parameters in obese and overweight children and adolescents in Greece" (summary P3-P149) will be presented at the 57th annual meeting of the European Society of Pediatric endocrinology in Athens, Greece.