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High vitamin D helps prediabetics improve their condition

Category: Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment

Individuals with prediabetes who have high vitamin D levels may face a low risk of developing the full-blown metabolic disorder, according to a recent study published in the journal Diabetes Care.

The findings are significant given the rising diabetes rates in the U.S. Prediabetes is a condition marked by insulin resistance. However, people who are at this stage can still avoid developing diabetes through lifestyle improvements. The findings suggest that vitamin D may play an important role in preventing the condition.

For the study, researchers tracked the vitamin D levels of more than 1,000 participants with prediabetes over the course of nearly three years. Blood tests showed that the one-third of participants with the highest blood levels of the nutrient were 20 to 30 percent less likely to develop diabetes than those in the bottom third of vitamin D levels.

The team said their findings suggest that there may be a strong association between high vitamin D levels and diabetes prevention. They recommended further research to examine the specifics of this relationship.