Do levels of vitamin D in our bodies at the start of a low-caloric diet predict weight loss success? According to a recent study performed by researchers at the University of Minnesota, yes.

38 subjects had their fat distribution and circulating blood levels of vitamin D measured before and after adhering to an 11-week diet plan where they consumed 750 fewer calories a day than their estimated total needs.

Results showed that the more vitamin D levels in the body at the start of the diet, the more weight the subjects lost. Higher baseline vitamin D levels also predicted greater loss of abdominal fat.

While the study’s authors confirm that these findings suggest that adding vitamin D to a reduced calorie diet will lead to further weight loss, they also feel that there needs to be more research in a controlled clinical trial to verify that taking vitamin D supplements is something dieters should do when trying to shed pounds.