Vitamin D deficiency and obesity have both become major health concerns in the United States. According to a 2009 report in the "Archives of Internal Medicine," 77 percent of Americans are vitamin D deficient. A 2003 report presented by the Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona, presented the statistics that nearly two out of every three Americans is considered overweight or obese. Recent studies, such as a 2009 study published in "Medical Hypotheses," have even found a possible connection between vitamin D deficiency and the cause of obesity. Many obese individuals have turned to the medication orlistat, or Alli to lose weight, but this medication can affect the absorption of vitamin D.
Alli
Alli is the brand name for the drug orlistat. It is designed to be taken in addition to a low-calorie, low-fat diet and exercise in order to achieve weight loss. Orlistat is in a medication class known as lipase inhibitors and works by blocking fats from being absorbed by the intestines; fat is then removed in your stool. Alli can cause side effects such as loose stool, oily and fatty stool, increased bowel movements, inability to control bowel movements, stomach pain, irregular menstrual periods, headaches and anxiety. Alli is available over-the-counter or by a prescription from your physician.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a fat soluble nutrient that is essential for bone growth and health as well as the regulation of calcium in the body. It can be acquired by drinking fortified milk or eating oily fish such as salmon; but maintaining healthy levels through diet alone is not likely. Your body can also produce vitamin D by regular exposure of your skin to the ultraviolet B rays from the sun. The Institute of Medicine's Food and Nutrition Board recommends a daily intake of 600 to 800 International Units, or IU, of vitamin D a day. Vitamin D deficiency is treated with high doses of vitamin D supplements.
Medical Research
Because vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient, it is absorbed by the body in fats through the intestines. Because Alli works to block fats from being absorbed, it in turn blocks the body from absorbing vitamin D. A 2002 study published in "Pharmacotherapy" looked at the effects of orlistat on fat soluble vitamins in obese adolescents. They found that even when the obese individuals were taking regular multivitamins, their vitamin D levels were significantly reduced after only a month of taking orlistat. They determined it was prudent to monitor patient's vitamin D levels when taking orlistat.
Considerations
If you are undergoing treatment for a vitamin D deficiency, talk with your physician before beginning Alli. Your physician may recommend that you wait until your vitamin D levels have been brought up to optimal range before beginning Alli. Once you begin Alli, talk with your physician about regular blood tests to monitor your vitamin D levels and a possible increase in vitamin D supplementation.
References
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; Demographic Differences and Trends of Vitamin D Insufficiency in the US Population, 1988-2004; Adit A. Ginde, MD et al.; March 23, 2009
- Office of the Surgeon General; The Obesity Crisis in America; Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S; July 16, 2003
- "Medical Hypotheses"; Vitamin D Deficiency is the Cause of Common Obesity; YJ Foss; March 2009
- MedlinePlus; Orlistat; August 1, 2010
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin D
- "Pharmacotherapy"; Effects of Orlistat on Fat-Soluble Vitamins in Obese Adolescents; JR McDuffie et al.; July 2002
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