Nutritionist names vitamin linked to reduced risk of diabetes
Vitamin D linked to reduced diabetes risk (Photo: Freepik)
In Ukraine, over 2.3 million people are affected by diabetes, with hundreds of thousands having prediabetes. Recent research suggests that regular consumption of vitamin D helps lower the risks of developing the disease, according to a Facebook post by nutritionist Oleg Shvets.
Impact of vitamin D on diabetes development in people with prediabetes
"Several epidemiological studies indicate a connection between low levels of vitamin D in the human body and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D)," states the physician.
Several small studies have demonstrated that dietary supplements containing vitamin D in individuals with a deficiency may have a favorable effect on insulin resistance and its secretion. However, conclusive confirmation that vitamin D reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes requires further investigation.
In the National Institute of Health's largest randomized controlled study to date on type 2 diabetes, 2,423 people with prediabetes participated. They were randomly divided into groups receiving dietary vitamin D supplements or a placebo, with an average observation period of 2.5 years. The risk coefficient for developing T2D was 0.88 for the vitamin D supplement group compared to the placebo.
A meta-analysis of three randomized studies of patients taking dietary vitamin D supplements showed a 15% lower risk of diabetes.
"Taking dietary supplements containing vitamin D also increased the likelihood of normalizing glucose metabolism regulation by 30%. Researchers found that vitamin D supplementation is safe and well-tolerated. No kidney stones were observed with the intake of dietary supplements containing vitamin D," explains Shvets.
Significance of the study
Despite the fact that the effect of vitamin D in reducing the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes is less significant compared to other factors such as lifestyle, weight loss, metformin use, etc., vitamin D supplementation is considered safe and effective.
"Even a 15% reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes through the use of dietary vitamin D supplements can have significant implications for public health. Supplementation with vitamin D for the prevention of type 2 diabetes can be easily incorporated into clinical practice. These data emphasize the need for further research in this direction," added the nutritionist.
Earlier, we wrote about doctors compiling a ranking of the best diets for the year 2024.
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