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Low Vitamin D Associated with Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes

In a 2004 study, subjects with low levels of vitamin D had almost 3 times the risk of metabolic syndrome. Thus, the researchers conclude that low vitamin D leads to insulin resistance and noted "Now, we have one more reason to keep up vitamin D.^1,2 This is supported by other research, where investigators noted "Vitamin D deficiency may, therefore, be involved in the pathogenesis [cause] of both forms of diabetes.³" Vitamin D levels also tend to be low in diabetic children and vitamin D may even help to prevent the diabetes if given early.⁴

Resources

¹Chiu et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;79:820-825

²Liu .Dietary calcium, vitamin D, and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and older US Women. Diabetes Care, 2005;28(12):2926-2932)

³Mathieu et al. Vitamin D and diabetes. Diabetologia, 2005;48(7):1247-1257).

⁴Pozzilli P, Manfrini S, et al, “Low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D-3 and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 in patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes,” Hormone and Metabolic Research, 2005; 37(11): 680-683.