Impulsive or binge eating may be associated with low vitamin D – Nov 2018

I have often thought that obesity may be an indication that the body is trying to get a nutrient – perhaps the nutrient is vitamin D. Henry Lahore, founder of VitaminDWiki

Impulsivity and vitamin D in bariatric surgery candidates.

Pharmacol Rep. 2018 Aug;70(4):688-693. doi: 10.1016/j.pharep.2018.02.005. Epub 2018 Feb 5.

Wrzosek M1, Sawicka A2, Tałałaj M2, Wojnar M3, Nowicka G4.
1 Dept of Biochemistry and Pharmacogenomics, Medical University of Warsaw and Center for Preclinical Studies, Warszawa, Poland. malgorzata.wrzosek at wum.edu.pl.
2 Department of Geriatrics, Internal Medicine and Metabolic Bone Diseases, Medical Centre of Postgraduate Education, Prof. W. Orlowski Hospital in Warsaw, Warszawa, Poland.
3 Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, Warszawa, Poland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
4 Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacogenomics, Medical University of Warsaw and Center for Preclinical Studies, Warszawa, Poland.

BACKGROUND:
Obesity is recognized as a major health problem. Vitamin D is involved in maintaining energy metabolism by regulation of glucose transporters, uncoupling proteins, and normal brain function. We aimed to explore a relationship between impulsivity, eating behaviors, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration in a sample of 322 bariatric surgery candidates.

METHODS:
Participants completed a questionnaire on their health, eating habits and The Eating Disorders Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q). Impulsivity was evaluated with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). Blood samples were obtained to measure levels of 25(OH)D, lipids (cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol), and glucose.

RESULTS:
Overall scores on the BIS-11, along with scores on the Attentional Subscale of the BIS were significantly higher in participants with higher frequency of snack food consumption. Scores on the Attentional Subscale of the BIS were higher in participants who self-reported eating in response to emotions. Participants who reported eating at night or declared intense emotions associated with a desire-to-eat had the highest global, attentional, and non-planning impulsivity levels. Scores on the Non-planning Subscale of the BIS-11 were elevated in participants with 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations lower than 10ng/ml.

CONCLUSIONS:
The results suggest that the higher level of impulsivity among the patients with obesity is associated with eating habits, and support the hypothesis that vitamin D deficiency may contribute to impulsiveness.