Low Vitamin D Levels Linked To Diabetes

Lack of vitamin D has long been linked to obesity, but a new study suggests that a deficiency in this vitamin is associated with diabetes - regardless of a person's weight.

While the findings, which are published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism suggest that vitamin D, obesity and diabetes may be intricately linked, they also indicate that people who are at a healthy weight may need to be tested more frequently for vitamin D levels.

"The major strength of this study is that it compares vitamin D levels in people at a wide range of weights (from lean to morbidly obese subjects) while taking whether they had diabetes into account," said study co-author Mercedes Clemente-Postigo.

Type 2, pre-diabetes and metabolic syndrome

The study revealed that people with low vitamin D levels are more likely to have various types of blood sugar complications, including type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes and metabolic syndrome - a precursor to diabetes and other serious health complications.

"Our findings indicate that vitamin D is associated more closely with glucose metabolism than obesity," said Dr. Manuel Macías-González, study co-author.

According to the Vitamin D Council, maintaining a healthy diet often isn't enough to prevent a vitamin D deficiency - many people also need exposure to sunlight as well as vitamin D supplements.

Recommendations on supplementation vary greatly - ask your doctor what dosage may be right for you.

Source: Endocrine Society, Vitamin D Council