Benefits of including calcium and vitamin D in a weight-loss diet

The benefit of adding calcium plus vitamin D to a weight-loss diet is that it might improve cholesterol levels.

The study included 63 healthy, overweight or obese women who had been taking less than 800 mg per day of calcium. In addition to the diet, one group took a supplement that included 600 mg elemental calcium and 200 IU vitamin D per tablet. The other group did not.

Over the next 15 weeks there was a significantly greater decrease in LDL (bad) cholesterol blood levels. There were also favorable changes in the ratio of total cholesterol to LDL cholesterol and of LDL to HDL cholesterol compared to the placebo group.

It’s worth speaking with your doctor about this study if you are on a diet.

1/7/07 20:13 JR