Calcium, vitamin D improve lipid profiles.

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Women who supplement their weight-loss program with calcium and vitamin D achieve better lipid profiles than those who do not, according to a just-published report. *

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During a 15-week trial, 63 overweight or obese women supplemented twice daily with 600 mg of calcium and 200 IU of vitamin D, or an inactive placebo. Compared to the placebo group, those who took the calcium-vitamin D supplement significantly reduced their low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio, and LDL to HDL ratio, while also lowering their total cholesterol and triglycerides.

Supplementation with calcium and vitamin D thus augmented the beneficial effects of weight loss on lipid and lipoprotein profiles in overweight and obese women.

Reference

* Major GC, Alarie F, Dore J, Phouttama S, Tremblay A. Supplementation with calcium + vitamin D enhances the beneficial effect of weight loss on plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Jan;85(1):54-9.