"For the first time researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center http have found that weight loss in combination with vitamin D supplementation has a greater effect on reducing chronic inflammation than weight loss alone. Chronic inflammation is known to contribute to the development and progression of several diseases including some cancers. Results of the randomized controlled clinical trial  which involved more than  overweight postmenopausal women who had insufficient levels of vitamin D at the beginning of the study  are published online ahead of the July print issue of Cancer Prevention Research httpcancerpreventionresearch.aacrjournals.orgcontentearly.CAPR.full.pdfhtmlsiddbdeafafbcdad a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. We know from our previous studies http that by losing weight people can reduce their overall levels of inflammation and there is some evidence suggesting that taking vitamin D supplements can have a similar effect if one has insufficient levels of the nutrient said lead and corresponding author Catherine Duggan Ph.D. a principal staff scientist in the Public Health Sciences Division at Fred Hutch. However it has not been known whether combining the two  weight loss and vitamin D  would further boost this effect. Its the first study to test whether adding vitamin D augments the considerable effect of weight loss on inflammatory biomarkers she said. To explore this question Duggan and colleagues recruited  healthy overweight older women who had lowerthanrecommended levels of vitamin D less than  ngmL. The women then took part in a month diet and exercise program including  minutes of moderatetovigorous exercise five days a week. Half of the study participants were randomly selected to receive  IU of vitamin D daily for the duration of the yearlong trial and the other half received an identicalappearing placebo or dummy vitamin. Biomarkers of inflammation were measured at the beginning and end of the study. The researchers then compared changes in these levels between the two groups. At the end of the study all of the participants had reduced levels of inflammation regardless of whether they took vitamin D which highlights the importance of weight loss in reducing inflammation Duggan said. However those who saw the most significant decline in markers of inflammation were those who took vitamin D and lost  to  percent of their baseline weight. These study participants had a  percent reduction in a proinflammatory cytokine called interleukin or IL as compared to those in the placebo group who saw a . percent reduction in IL. The researchers found similar results among women in the vitamin D group who lost more than  percent of their starting weight. While IL has normal functions in the body elevated levels are associated with an increased risk of developing certain cancers and diabetes and may be implicated as a cause of depression Duggan said. We were quite surprised to see that vitamin D had an effect on an inflammation biomarker only among women who lost at least  percent of their baseline weight Duggan said. That suggests vitamin D can augment the effect of weight loss on inflammation. Vitamin D is a steroid hormone that has multiple functions beyond its widely recognized role in regulating calcium levels and bone metabolism. Vitamin D receptors are found in more than  cell types and the research focus around this nutrient recently has shifted from bone health to vitamin Ds effect on cancer cardiovascular health and weight loss among other health issues. Inflammation occurs when the body is exposed to pathogens such as bacteria or viruses which puts the immune system in overdrive until the attack ceases and the inflammatory response abates. Overweight or obese people however exist in a state of chronic inflammation. This sustained upregulation of the inflammatory response occurs because fat tissue continually produces cytokines molecules that are usually only present for a short time while the body is fighting infection for example. It is thought that this state of chronic inflammation is protumorigenic that is it encourages the growth of cancer cells she said. There is also some evidence that increased body mass dilutes vitamin D possibly by sequestering it in fat tissue. Weight loss reduces inflammation and thus represents another mechanism for reducing cancer risk Duggan said. If ensuring that vitamin D levels are replete or at an optimum level can decrease inflammation over and above that of weight loss alone that can be an important addition to the tools people can use to reduce their cancer risk. Duggan encourages women to speak to their health care providers about measuring their levels of vitamin D to determine the most appropriate dosage.  The Breast Cancer Research Foundation Susan G. Komen for the Cure National Institutes of Health Seattle Cancer Consortium Breast Cancer Specialized Program in Research Excellence Fred HutchinsonUniversity of Washington Cancer Consortium and Safeway Foundation funded the research. Editors note To obtain a copy of the Cancer Prevention Research paper Effect of vitamin D supplementation in combination with weight loss on inflammatory biomarkers in postmenopausal women a randomized controlled trial or to arrange an interview with corresponding author Catherine Duggan please contact Kristen Woodward in Fred Hutch media relations kwoodwarfredhutch.org mailtokwoodwarfredhutch.org or . Fred Hutch  years of cures  At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center httpfhcrc.orgen.html home to three Nobel laureates interdisciplinary teams of worldrenowned scientists seek new and innovative ways to prevent diagnose and treat cancer HIVAIDS and other lifethreatening diseases. Fred Hutchs pioneering work in bone marrow transplantation led to the development of immunotherapy which harnesses the power of the immune system to treat cancer with minimal side effects. An independent nonprofit research institute based in Seattle Fred Hutch houses the nations first and largest cancer prevention research program as well as the clinical coordinating center of the Womens Health Initiative and the international headquarters of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network. Private contributions are essential httpssecure.convio.netfhcrcsiteDonationdf_id.donationform for enabling Fred Hutch scientists to explore novel research opportunities that lead to important medical breakthroughs. For more information visit fredhutch.org http or follow Fred Hutch on Facebook https Twitter https or YouTube httpplus.google.comfredhutchvideos."