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Medicines and supplements
Don't forget your vitamin D
A new report suggests vitamin D could be important in keeping diabetes at bay
Scientists have long championed the 'sunshine vitamin' for its protective properties against a whole range of health problems including cancer, osteoporosis and heart disease.
Now researchers from Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing have found that the vitamin may ward off diabetes too.
The study review, published in the journal Diabetes Educator, analysed a number of different studies looking at the link between vitamin D levels and diabetes.
One study, involving around 3,000 people with type 1 diabetes found a decreased risk in disease for those who took vitamin D supplements. Other studies reviewed suggested that vitamin D supplements might protect against the more common, type 2 variant of diabetes as well. It is thought that vitamin D plays an essential role in insulin production and sensitivity.
'Management of vitamin D deficiency may be a simple and cost-effective method to improve blood sugar control and prevent the serious complications associated with diabetes,' said Joanne Kouba, co-author of the Loyola University report.
The researchers argue that everyone at risk for diabetes should be screened for low vitamin D levels so that any deficiency can be spotted and remedied.
It is very difficult to get enough vitamin D in the diet. Foods rich in the nutrient include oily fish like salmon, sardines and trout. There are also small amounts in eggs and meat and some foods like breakfast cereals and margarine may be fortified with the vitamin. Most people get the majority of their vitamin D through exposure to sunlight. But as we get older the skin becomes less efficient at producing vitamin D – this combined with the fact that older people tend to go out less means that vitamin D deficiency becomes more common as we age.
'Health professional are increasingly becoming aware that even mild vitamin D deficiency can be detrimental for long-term health,' says Jacqui Lowdon, registered dietician and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association. 'Studies have shown that vitamin D can help protect against breast cancer and prostate cancer as well as helping to maintain strong bones. There is also evidence that people who are deficient are more prone to conditions like diabetes, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis too.'
Lowdon advises following the government guidelines that recommend that everyone over the age of 65 should take 10 micrograms of vitamin D every day.
'A supplement is a good idea, but make sure you tailor the supplement to your age and medical condition and don't take more than the recommended dose,' says Lowdon. 'It is also a good idea to try and get out into the sunlight for about 20-30 minutes a day between the months of April and September to naturally boost your vitamin D levels.'
British Dietetic Association www.bda.uk.com
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Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.
