A promising strategy for the prevention and treatment of obesity is the induction of the death of fat cells, or adipocytes, through apoptosis, the process of programmed cell death. So far diets only reduce the size of the adipocytes.

Igor N. Sergeev and Qingming Song, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA, found that increased dietary vitamin D and Ca intakes decrease the body and fat weight gain in mice fed high-fat (HF) diet. High vitamin D and calcium intakes reduce the diet-induced obesity (DIO) by increasing Ca²⁺-mediated apoptosis in adipose tissue via activation of the Ca²⁺/calpain/caspase-dependent pathway. 

Further studies are necessary to evaluate from a safety point of view in preclinical animal studies that vitamin D and Ca supplementation could contribute to the prevention and treatment of obesity. In Addition, the optimal levels of Ca and vitamin D intakes in humans have to be determined.

• High vitamin D and calcium intakes reduce diet-induced obesity in mice by increasing adipose tissue apoptosis,
  Igor N. Sergeev, Qingming Song,
  Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 2014.
  DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201300503