Extra weight gained over nearly five years by women with low levels of vitamin D, compared with women who had enough of the vitamin — 18.5 lbs. versus 16.4 lbs. — according to a government-funded study of more than 4,600 women aged 65 and older. “[A]lthough it was only two pounds, over time that can add up,” said study author Dr. Erin LeBlanc of the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, Ore., in a statement. About 78% of the women in the study had low vitamin D, likely from not getting enough sun exposure or not eating enough milk products, fatty fish or vitamin D–fortified foods such as cereals. [via Kaiser Permanente]
