Vitamin D supplements could help prevent type 2 diabetes in individuals who possess a specific gene variation, according to new research. In the UK, 4.6 million people have a diabetes diagnosis, but an estimated 6.3 million have non-diabetic hyperglycemia, commonly known as pre-diabetes, as reported by Diabetes UK. If left untreated, pre-diabetes can progress into type 2 diabetes, but vitamin D may help delay or prevent that progression.
The Role of Vitamin D
Known as the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D is obtained from the sun's UVB rays, as well as from foods like oily fish, mushrooms, and red meat. It is essential for maintaining healthy bones, teeth, and muscles. However, scientists have discovered that it also plays a role in blood sugar control.
A study conducted by researchers at Tufts University in Massachusetts found that pre-diabetic adults with certain variations in the vitamin D receptor gene had a 19 percent lower risk of developing diabetes when taking a high daily dose of vitamin D.
Study Details
“Diabetes has so many serious complications that develop slowly over years. If we can delay the time period that an individual will spend living with diabetes, we can stop some of those harmful side effects or lessen their severity,” said Bess Dawson-Hughes, senior scientist at Tufts University.
For the report, published in JAMA Network Open, researchers analyzed data from the D2d study, a clinical trial that tested the effect of 4,000 units of vitamin D per day versus a placebo in more than 2,000 US adults with pre-diabetes. They aimed to determine if a daily high dose would reduce the chance of these high-risk individuals developing diabetes.
Vitamin D circulating in the blood is converted into its active form before binding to the vitamin D receptor, a protein that helps cells respond to the vitamin. The researchers investigated whether genetic differences in this receptor might explain why some people benefited from vitamin D while others did not. The pancreas's insulin-producing cells have vitamin D receptors, suggesting the vitamin may help influence insulin release and blood sugar control.
Genetic Variations
Researchers split participants into two groups: those who appeared to benefit from vitamin D supplementation and those who did not. They found that individuals with a gene variation called AA, found in 30 percent of the population, did not respond to daily treatment with a high dose of vitamin D. However, the same treatment in adults with two other variations, AC and CC, saw a significantly reduced risk of developing diabetes.
“Part of what makes vitamin D appealing as a potential preventive tool is that it is inexpensive, widely available, and easy for people to take,” said Professor Anastassios Pittas from Tufts University School of Medicine. However, study authors cautioned against taking high doses of vitamin D to prevent pre-diabetes without medical advice. The NHS urges people not to take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vitamin D a day, as too much can cause calcium to build up in the body, weakening bones and damaging kidneys and the heart.
