Vitamin D and Diabetes: Is There a Connection?
By admin on Aug 8, 2010 in Health and Fitness
Research over the past few years has suggested a role of vitamin D in the prevention of type 2 diabetes. For example, according to vitamin D expert Michael Holick, an intake of vitamin D above 800 IU/day along with 1,000 milligrams of calcium can cut the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by a third. Furthermore, lack of vitamin D is related to impaired pancreatic cells (those that produce insulin), and vitamin D can naturally increase insulin production, thereby possibly preventing diabetes.
A recent study in Diabetes Care set out to evaluate whether, and by how much, vitamin D status (that is, levels of vitamin D in the blood) can predict complications of type 2 diabetes. After following 289 diabetes patients for an average of 15 years, the researchers found that those with the most severe vitamin D deficiency had the worst outcomes, including increased cardiovascular (heart attack and stroke) risk factors, and death.
Holick and other experts recommend optimizing your vitamin D status by taking a supplement and getting sensible sun exposure (for safe sun guidelines, pick up a copy of Holick’s book, The Vitamin D Solution). Request a vitamin D test from your healthcare provider (the best test is the 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] test). You want your levels to be between 40 and 60 nanograms per milliliter. If your levels are below that, take up to 2000 IU of vitamin D2 or D3 a day to improve your levels if need be. Get retested in 8 weeks to see how you’re doing.
Credits to:Nutrition Data: Diabetes