A popular vitamin can help fight obesity

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Vitamin D regulates various organic processes, including the morphofunction of adipose tissue and lipid metabolism. Research shows that the bioavailability of vitamin D is reduced in obesity, which may contribute to its development.

A group of scientists from Brazil decided to test whether vitamin D would help reduce obesity in rats fed a similar Western human diet.

Male rats were divided into two groups. Half were fed a standard diet (control group), half an obesogenic diet. After 60-90 days, rats were randomized to receive vitamin D supplementation or no vitamin D supplementation.

At 91 days of age, rats fed a Western diet were obese, showed higher abdominal circumference and white fat stores, dyslipidemia , hyperleptinemia, and higher levels of tumor necrosis factor TNF-alpha.

Vitamin D supplementation reduced body weight gain, abdominal fat deposition, and improved plasma lipid profile in such rats. These effects were accompanied by a decrease in leptinemia and levels of circulating TNF-alpha in these rodents.