Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin involved in the regulation of calcium and phosphate metabolism and thus in bone metabolism. It is found in food in two chemical forms: as vitamin D2 – ergocalciferol of plant origin and D3 – cholecalciferol of animal origin. New studies indicate its direct or indirect regulation of activity within about 3-5% of the genome, which translates into the processes of proliferation and differentiation of immune system cells, the activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system as well as insulin secretion. Therefore, adequate vitamin D supplementation in overweight or obese people is one of the protective factors against the development of cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, supplementation itself in such high doses is often the problem, because recent recommendations suggest year-round supplementation of 1,600-4,000 IU (40-100 µg), depending on the degree of obesity (Płudowski et al. 2013).
Researchers at Drexel University (Philadelphia, USA) conducted a twelve-week clinical trial in which obese patients took supplementation of vitamin D and magnesium in the form of a highly absorbable salt, i.e. bisglycinate magnesium. This combination was chosen because magnesium is a cofactor for, among other things, enzymes involved in the metabolic processes connected with the conversion of vitamin D to its biologically active form, i.e. calcidiol. At the end of this study, baseline calcidiol levels were compared with those before supplementation. Patients taking both the vitamin and magnesium glycinate showed a much stronger elevation of the active form than the group supplementing only vitamin D without the macronutrient. What’s more, a 7.5 mm Hg drop in systolic blood pressure values was observed in patients additionally suffering from hypertension. These promising results may provide a basis for improving the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation in the future, thereby lowering the risk of diseases resulting from vitamin D deficiency.
Cheung MM, Dall RD, Shewokis PA, Altasan A, Volpe SL, Amori R, Singh H, Sukumar D. The effect of combined magnesium and vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D status, systemic inflammation, and blood pressure: A randomized double-blinded controlled trial. Nutrition. 2022 Jul-Aug; 99-100:111674.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0899900722000867?via%3Dihub
