You know what vitamin D does for your overall health, but what about your body comp? Check out this study.
Back in 2020, scientists lined up 47 college athletes to test the fat-loss effects of training along with 1,000 IU of vitamin D daily. They did the blood work and the scans for the three-month study, and then, one month into the project, COVID hit. Gyms shut down. The previously fit athletes stopped training. However, 27 of them kept taking the vitamin D ➔ Buy at Biotest.
After three months, the scientists re-examined the athletes just to see what happened. The athletes who didn't take vitamin D during the shutdown increased their body fat percentage by 1.9 points. But those who did take vitamin D only increased by 0.2 points. They gain virtually no fat.
The scientists concluded: "Vitamin D supplementation has preferable effects on maintaining athletes' body composition under circumstances where activity has decreased."
Were they on to something?
Other studies on vitamin D and body fat give this study more credence. One found that body fat percentage is inversely related to serum vitamin D3 levels. Another study found that increasing vitamin D levels with supps led to body fat reduction.
Add the current study where vitamin D plays a role in maintaining fat percentage even when you're not training regularly and that's a pretty compelling case to take vitamin D.
What to do
Achieving and maintaining therapeutic vitamin D levels is tricky, especially if you're over 40. That's why taking microencapsulated D3 is a good idea. It's the most bioavailable and longest-lasting form. Its effects remain constant for up to 14 days, making it better than standard vitamin D3 supplements.
Most experts recommend dosages up to 5,000 IU a day. You can get microencapsulated vitamin D in D Fix ➔ Buy at Biotest. D Fix technology solves the biggest problem with Vitamin D supplements – absorption.
For more info, check out: 70 ng/mL: the vitamin D goal.
Reference
- Kawashima I et al. "The impact of vitamin D supplementation on body fat mass in elite male collegiate athletes." Nutr Metab. 20211;18:51.