Vitamin D Benefits: Can It Help Prevent Diabetes?

Posted by Ben:

It seems there’s nothing Vitamin D can’t do. It’s becoming the kryptonite to all serious diseases. A 2009 review published by researchers from Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing concluded that an adequate intake of vitamin D may prevent or delay the onset of diabetes and reduce complications for those who have already been diagnosed.

 

According to medicalnewstoday.com, “Vitamin D is quickly becoming the "it" nutrient.” To most of us, this is old news. But what that article—which actually is old news, being published in 2009—goes on to discuss is something new to me: vitamin D might help reduce the complications associated with diabetes, or even fight it off altogether.


Findings of a review article published in Diabetes Educator concluded that “adequate intake of vitamin D may prevent or delay the onset of diabetes and reduce complications for those who have already been diagnosed.” The review was conducted by a group of researchers from Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing (home to the Center for Ethics in Nursing, the Center for Spiritual Leadership in Health Care, and the Center for Nursing Research).


Of the 23 million American suffering from diabetes, many also test low in vitamin D levels, and evidence suggests that D plays a big role in insulin sensitivity and secretion. Maintaining healthy levels is of utmost importance, as study co-founder Dr. Sue Penckofer, Ph.D, R.N., points out:  “Vitamin D has widespread benefits for our health and certain chronic diseases in particular. This article further substantiates the role of this nutrient in the prevention and management of glucose intolerance and diabetes.”


There are two main causes of low vitamin D levels: poor nutrition and lack of adequate exposure to sunlight. The lack of sunlight is especially prominent during the cold winter months and for people who live at greater distances from the equator. However, the study notes that diet alone may not be sufficient to maintain healthy vitamin D levels. The article suggests that to maintain healthy levels of vitamin D, a combination of improved diet, increased exposure to sunlight and dietary supplements may be the best course of action.


Indeed, one of the studies examined for the review article took a look at 3,000 people with type 1 diabetes. The researchers found the people who took vitamin D supplements had a decreased risk in disease. Further observational studies of people with type 2 diabetes also showed that vitamin D supplements may be important in the prevention of the disease.


"Management of vitamin D deficiency may be a simple and cost-effective method to improve blood sugar control and prevent the serious complications associated with diabetes," said Joanne Kouba, Ph.D., R.D., L.D.N., study co-author and clinical assistant professor of dietetics.


Sources:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/135257.php

Posted by Ben