Vitamin D supplements can help fight diabetes by improving the effectiveness of insulin

New research suggests that vitamin D appears to boost insulin in the body.

The hormone made by the pancreas is essential for glucose metabolism, but in a growing number of people (diabetics), its effects are in vain – and without it, the suffering ensues.

Scientists all over the world are working to reduce the rates of this condition, which can be costly and life-threatening, complicate surgeries, pregnancy, childbirth, etc.

Canadian scientists have presented surprising new data that suggests that high doses of "sun vitamin" may slow the disease in newly diagnosed patients, or even prevent people from developing it.

According to a study published in the European Journal of Endocrinology, high-dose supplementation can improve glucose metabolism and help prevent the development and progression of diabetes.

It significantly improved the action of insulin in the muscle tissue of participants after six months.

The lead author, Dr. Claudia Gagnon, from Laval University in Quebec City, said, "The reason we found an improvement in glucose metabolism following vitamin D supplementation in people at high risk for diabetes or those newly diagnosed, while other studies have shown no effect in people with long-standing type 2 diabetes is unclear.

"This could be due to the fact that improvements in metabolic function are harder to detect in people with long-term illness or that it takes a longer treatment time to see the benefits. . "

His team examined the effect of vitamin D on 96 patients with type 2 diabetes – the form related to obesity – or prediabetes.

It is there that the blood sugar is above normal, which can lead to a serious disorder.

Markers of insulin function and glucose metabolism were measured before and after six months of high dose vitamin D supplementation, about five times the recommended amount.

Half of the middle-aged participants, mostly in their 50s and 60s, received 5,000 IU of vitamin D a day and the others a placebo.

The recommended amount for individuals in Canada is a maximum of 1,000 IU.

Less than half (46%) of participants initially had low vitamin D levels. Vitamin D supplementation was very effective.

Vitamin D is produced by the body when it is exposed to the sun, but modern lifestyles make sure that many spend more time indoors.

According to the study published in the European Journal of Endocrinology, high-dose supplementation can improve glucose metabolism and help prevent the development and progression of diabetes.

This is the process by which simple sugars found in many foods are processed and used to produce energy.

Type 2 diabetes is an increasingly prevalent disease that places a tremendous burden on patients and society.

This can lead to serious health problems, including nerve damage, blindness and kidney failure.

People at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes can be identified by several risk factors, including obesity or a family history of the disease.

Low levels of vitamin D have already been badociated with the disease. But some studies have reported no improvement in metabolic function.

However, they often had a small number of participants or included individuals with normal levels of early vitamin D, metabolically healthy or with long-standing type 2 diabetes.

Whether vitamin D supplementation has a beneficial effect in patients with prediabetes or newly diagnosed diabetes, particularly those with low levels of vitamin D, remains unclear.

Dr. Gagnon suggests that future studies evaluate whether there are individual clinical or genetic factors that affect how different people respond to vitamin D supplementation and whether the positive effect on metabolism is sustained over time. term.

She added, "Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes are a growing public health problem. Although our results are promising, additional studies are needed to confirm our results, to determine if some people could benefit more from this intervention and to badess safety. high dose vitamin D supplementation in the long term.

"Until then, I would suggest following current recommendations for vitamin D supplementation."