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# Vitamin D may help prevent diabetes mellitus - study
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/vitamin_d_diabetes_mellitus_0904120652/
- Published: 2012-09-04T19:51:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:50:52.000Z
- Description: In an observational analysis of 2,039 people with prediabetes, those in the highest third of blood vitamin D were 28 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes over a mean 2.7 years. The design cannot establish cause.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Vitamins, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

By David Liu, PHD

Tuesday Sept 4, 2012 ([foodconsumer.org](http://www.foodconsumer.org/)) -- A new study recently published in Diabetes Care suggests that taking vitamin D supplements may help prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus in people at risk for the disease or with pre-diabetes. The study is observational and it can only suggest a possibility because a causal relationship has yet to be established.

Anastassios G. Pittas, MD, MS of Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Tufts Medical Center, in Boston, Massachusetts and colleagues conducted the study and found that men and women with prediabetes with their serum vitamin D, measured as 25-hydroxyvitamin D, in the highest tertile were nearly 30 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus, compared to those who had the lowest levels of vitamin D.

The observational study involved 2039 people with prediabetes who were enrolled in the Diabetes Prevention Program in which nearly half assigned to receiving intensive lifestyle intervention and the other half assigned to a placebo. The participants were followed up for a mean 2.7 years during which 25-hydroxyvigamin D, body mass index, and physical activity were evaluated at multiple study time points and mean values were used for statistical analysis.

After adjustment for confounders including the lifestyle intervention program, of all patients with prediabetes, those in the highest tertile of vitamin D levels ( mean concentration 30.1 ng/mL) were 28 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus during the follow-up, compared to those in the lowest tertile of vitamin D levels (12.8 ng/mL).

Of patients assigned to the placebo, those whose vitamin D was in the highest tertile were 30 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus, compared to those with the lowest vitamin D levels. Among patients receiving lifestyle intervention, those who had the highest amount of vitamin D were 20 percent less likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, compared to those with their vitamin D in the lowest tertile.

The researchers concluded "Higher plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D, assessed repeatedly, was associated with lower risk of incident diabetes in high-risk patients, after adjusting for lifestyle interventions (dietary changes, increased physical activity, and weight loss) known to decrease diabetes risk.:

But they also pointed out "Because of the observational nature of the study, the potential association between vitamin D and diabetes needs to be confirmed in intervention studies."

An estimated 24 million Americans live with type 2 diabetes mellitus. There is no cure for the disease, but it can be treated and managed. If out of control, the disease can lead to severe complications and premature deaths.

It is believed that at least 25 million Americans live with prediabetes. Patients with prediabetes do not have a severe condition like diabetes mellitus, but the blood sugar is above the normal indicating that there is something wrong with the sugar metabolism. If not controlled, prediabetes may develop into diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is preventable in many cases. Bitter melon and curcumin supplements can be very effective in preventing the disease, according to previous studies. Following a healthy lifestyle including a healthy diet can also be helpful.