High dose of vitamin D supplements combat deficiency in obese kids

Washington, Nov 2 (ANI): Giving a high-dose of vitamin D supplements everyday can help fix its deficiency in overweight and obese adolescents, according to a new study.

Vitamin D deficiency is common in overweight and obese adolescents, according to the National Institutes of Health.

University of Missouri researchers have found that providing obese adolescents with a high daily dose of vitamin D3 is safe and effective in improving their vitamin D status.

"Obese adolescents face an increased risk for deficiency because they tend to absorb vitamin D in their fat stores, which prevents it from being utilized in their blood," said Catherine Peterson, associate professor of nutrition and exercise physiology.

"We found that a daily dose of 4,000 IUs of vitamin D3, the maximum intake level set by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), is both safe and effective at improving vitamin D status in obese adolescents," she stated.

Vitamin D is essential for maintaining healthy bones, muscles, nerves and immunity.

The IOM recently set new dietary reference intakes for vitamin D. They recommend 600 IUs per day, with a tolerable upper intake of 4,000 IUs.

In the study, participants from the MU Adolescent Diabetes and Obesity clinic were randomly selected to receive a placebo or 4,000 IU/day of vitamin D3 for six months as part of their standard treatment.

All obese participants initially were deficient or insufficient in vitamin D status.

Participants supplemented with vitamin D3 had significantly greater increases in concentrations of 25OHD, the main indicator of vitamin D status, compared to those who received the placebo.

"If obese adolescents only consumed the recommended 600 IUs, they would be in trouble," Peterson said.

"It takes 4,000 IUs to raise their vitamin D status within a sufficient range. This is much higher than the currently recommended daily amount for this age group. This indicates that physicians need to carefully evaluate the vitamin D status in their overweight and obese patients," she added.

The finding was presented at the annual meeting of Experimental Biology. (ANI)