The Study
Retinoic acid and vitamin D(3) powerfully inhibit in vitro leptin secretion by human adipose tissue.
This study looked at fat from people in a dish and saw that two vitamins made less of a hormone called leptin. But it doesn’t prove these vitamins do the same thing in real people’s bodies — it’s just a lab observation.
Analysis score
Maximum 44 for a cross-sectional study.
Where the score came from
Scientists tested if certain vitamins and chemicals can stop fat cells from sending out a signal called leptin. They found two of them—vitamin D and retinoic acid—strongly turned down the signal, especially when used together.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 521 / 100
Quality score
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes—this suggests these compounds might help the brain sense energy levels differently, but it’s not proven in people yet.
- 2Vitamin D3 and all-trans-retinoic acid reduced leptin secretion in human fat tissue in a lab dish.
- 3T3 did nothing.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
The Journal of endocrinology
Year
2001
Authors
C. Menendez, M. Lage, R. Peinó, R. Baldelli, P. Concheiro, C. Diéguez, F. Casanueva
Related Content
Claims (4)
Taking vitamin D might help your body release a hormone that tells you when you're full and also stop a protein that blocks muscle growth, so you could feel more energized and build muscle more easily.
Two vitamins—retinoic acid and vitamin D3—can reduce the amount of a hormone called leptin that fat tissue releases, and when used together, they work even better than alone.
Two vitamins—retinoic acid and vitamin D3—can reduce the amount of a fat hormone called leptin in human fat tissue in a lab dish, and when used together, they work even better than alone.
When you have more vitamin D in your body, your fat cells send out more of a signal called leptin, which tells your brain you’re full and don’t need to store more fat—so you might gain less fat over time.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.