Low levels of vitamin D can stunt growth and cause weight gain in females during puberty, according to a new study. Published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, scientists from the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and the University of Southern California found vitamin D deficiency causes higher body mass and shorter stature in girls at the peak of their growing spurt.
The research team measured vitamin D in girls aged 16 to 22, and assessed body fat and height to determine how vitamin D deficiency could affect young women's health. They discovered that, on average, young women with normal vitamin D levels were taller than peers deficient in vitamin D.
Source:
Science Daily: Lack Of Vitamin D Causes Weight Gain And Stunts Growth In Girls
