High vitamin D and calcium intakes reduce diet-induced obesity in mice by increasing adipose tissue apoptosis.
METHODS
Modulation of apoptosis is emerging as a promising antiobesity strategy because removal of adipocytes through this process will result in reducing body fat. Effects of vitamin D on apoptosis are mediated via multiple signaling pathways that involve common regulators and effectors converging on cellular Ca(2+) . We have previously shown that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 induces the Ca(2+) signal associated with activation of Ca(2+) -dependent apoptotic proteases in mature adipocytes. In this study, a diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model was used to evaluate the role of vitamin D and calcium in adiposity.


RESULTS
DIO mice fed high vitamin D3 , high Ca, and high D3 plus high Ca diets demonstrated a decreased body and fat weight gain, improved markers of adiposity and vitamin D status (plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, adiponectin, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH)), but an increased plasma Ca(2+) . High D3 and Ca intakes were associated with induction of apoptosis and activation of Ca(2+) -dependent apoptotic proteases, calpain and caspase-12, in adipose tissue of DIO mice. The combination of D3 plus Ca was more effective than D3 or Ca alone in decreasing adiposity.


CONCLUSIONS
The results imply that high vitamin D and Ca intakes activate the Ca(2+) -mediated apoptotic pathway in adipose tissue. Targeting this pathway with vitamin D and Ca supplementation could contribute to the prevention and treatment of obesity. However, this potentially effective and affordable approach needs to be evaluated from a safety point of view.
Department of Health and Nutritional Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA.
Igor N
IN
Sergeev
Qingming
Q
Song
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D050154:Adiposity; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D002154:Calpain / Q000378:metabolism; D053454:Caspase 12 / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood
D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D007328:Insulin; D014807:Vitamin D; D002154:Calpain; C506440:Casp12 protein, mouse; D053454:Caspase 12
Apoptosis; Calcium; Calpain; Caspase-12; Diet-induced obesity; Vitamin D