title: Calcium and vitamin D in obesity.
abstract: New and more effective nutritional measures are urgently needed for the prevention of obesity. The role of Ca and vitamin D in obesity has been recently implicated. Low Ca intake and low vitamin D status have been linked with an increased risk of obesity in epidemiological studies; however, clinical intervention trials designed to test this association have produced controversial results. The suggested anti-obesity mechanisms of Ca and vitamin D include the regulation of adipocyte death (apoptosis), adipogenesis and lipid metabolism. Dietary Ca has been also shown to increase faecal fat excretion. The potential role of Ca and vitamin D in shifting energy balance towards a more negative state is an area of considerable interest. Ultimately, a review of recent research findings does not allow the reaching of a definitive conclusion that increasing Ca intake and rising vitamin D status will influence fat mass and body weight or decrease the risk of obesity and overweight.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Nutritional Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD              57007, USA.
authors.forename: Qingming
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Igor N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Sergeev
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D004041:Dietary Fats; D018977:Micronutrients; D014807:Vitamin D