Calcium, Vitamin D May Take the Edge Off Age-Related Pounds

While milk is no miracle worker as a weight-loss aid, women who take supplemental calcium and vitamin D  do appear to have an advantage warding off postmenopausal weight gain.

That finding comes from the huge Women’s Health Initiative study. Previous research has been inconsistent, with some evidence showing that increasing calcium intake aided weight loss in people on diets.

The study included 36,282 postmenopausal women ages 50 to 79 years. It found that those who took 1,000 mg of calcium and 400 IU of vitamin D (cholecalciferol) daily over a seven year period weighed an average of 0.28 pounds less, and were less likely to gain weight, than those who received placebos.

The women who benefited the most from supplementation were those who began the study with inadequate calcium intake. They were found to be 11 % less likely to have small weight gains (2.2 to 6.6 pounds) after three years; they also were 11 % less likely to gain more than 6.6 pounds.

Just how calcium and vitamin D affect weight isn’t clear, researchers say. The nutrients might work together to help regulate metabolism. In addition, calcium helps to decrease the absorption of fat in the intestines.  (Arch Intern Med 2007 May 14;167(9):893-902.)

Bottom line: Getting enough calcium and vitamin D to get you through the menopausal years when your bones thin and your waist thickens might help you manage both your weight and your risk for fractures.

Our Multi Nutrient Formula contains 1,000 IU of Vitamin D3 (the most superior form) and 800 mg of Calcium, more than almost any other multi-vitamin on the market. Made in the USA. See related items below.