Vitamin D and diabetes: Where do we stand?. Issue 2 (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mathieu, Chantal
• Is Part Of: Diabetes research and clinical practice. Volume 108:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 201
• Page End: 209
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: Diabetes -- Periodicals; Diabetes Mellitus -- Periodicals; 616.462
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2015.01.036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0168-8227

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="author" id="abs0005"> <title id="sect0005">Abstract</title> <sec> <p id="spar0005">The potential beneficial effects of supplementing vitamin D or treatment with pharmacological doses of vitamin D in the prevention or cure of diseases like type 1 (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains the subject of debate. Data from epidemiological and association studies clearly indicate a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and a higher prevalence of both forms of diabetes. In animal models, vitamin D deficiency predisposes to type 1 and type 2 diabetes, whereas high doses of vitamin D or its active hormonal form, 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D, prevent disease. Large scale, randomized, blinded prospective studies however, remain lacking. Here we discuss the current literature on a role for vitamin D in diabetes. We propose, in particular, to avoid vitamin D deficiency in individuals at risk of developing T1D or T2D. Applying international guidelines on supplementation of vitamin D using small daily doses of vitamin D (500–1000 IU) may contribute to reduce the burden of diabetes by preventing vitamin D deficiency. Any other recommendations are at present not supported by data.</p> </sec> </abstract>