DOC News January 1, 2008
Volume 5 Number 1 p. 14
© 2008 American Diabetes Association
Vitamin D May Curb Type 2 Risk
Past research has indicated that vitamin D supplements may help reduce the
risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A new study strengthens that possibility
with its finding that people with higher vitamin D levels were less likely to
develop type 2. Vitamin D is available to people through sunlight or dietary
supplementation.
Finnish researchers analyzed 1978–1980 data on 4,097 participants
(ages 40–69) in the Mini-Finland Health Survey. The survey provided
information on participants' education, smoking status, exercise levels, and
hypertension medication status. Participants' height, weight, and blood
pressure were measured and blood samples collected.
Of the total sample, 187 people developed type 2 during the study period.
After the researchers adjusted for subjects' age and sex and the time of year
of blood sample collection, they found a significant inverse relation between
serum vitamin D levels and incidence of type 2 diabetes. Subjects with the
highest levels reduced their type 2 risk by 40%, the researchers
calculate.
Vitamin D's protective effect appeared to weaken somewhat when the
researchers further adjusted for such type 2 risk factors as body weight,
smoking, exercise level, and education. However, they conclude that, overall,
vitamin D appears to help reduce type 2 risk and call for further research on
this apparent link and on the vitamin's effects relative to exercise and
diet.
Mattila C, Knekt P, Männistö S, et al.: Serum
25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and subsequent risk of type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes Care 30:2569-2570, 2007.[Free Full Text]
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