Thursday Oct 3, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A meta-analysis of data from 21 prospective studies shows that blood 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels were lower in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus, which affects an estimated 25 million Americans.

Yiqing Song, MD, SCD from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts and colleagues conducted the analysis and found people with low serum levels of vitamin D were 48% more likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus than those with high serum levels of this sunshine vitamin. A total of 21 studies of 76220 participants and nearly 5000 incident type 2 diabetes mellitus cases were identified for the meta-analysis.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients were found at 48 % higher risk for the low serum levels of vitamin D.   An inverse association between the level of vitamin D and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus was not affected by gender, duration of follow-up, study sample size, diagnostic criteria of diabetes or vitamin D assay method.

Specifically, researchers found each 10 nmol/L increment in serum 25(OH)D levels was correlated with a 4% lower risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The researchers concluded "Our meta-analysis showed an inverse and significant association between circulating 25(OH)D levels and risk of type 2 diabetes across a broad range of blood 25(OH)D levels in diverse populations."

Does this study mean that vitamin D can help prevent type 2 diabetes?  Possibly, but not necessarily.   It can be possible that type 2 diabetes mellitus patients were less likely to engage in outdoor physical activity and less often exposed to sunshine, which can be the cause of their low serum levels of vitamin D.   Clinical trials need to be carried out to see if taking vitamin D supplements can help prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus.

In any case, vitamin D is important for human health.  Vitamin deficiency has been associated with more than 100 health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and depression.  Studies suggest that more than 75% cases of breast cancer can be prevented if women can maintain certain levels of vitamin D.

Doctors say there is no cure for type 2 diabetes mellitus,  a disease that can be managed only by taking medications.  But the disease is absolutely preventable and treatable.  An Indian trial indicated that taking 6 grams of curcumin per day for three months, all prediabetics prevented the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus.   Many alternative preventatives can be used to prevent the disease including an anti-diabetic diet.   One should not use a high sugar and high fat diet often if he wants to avoid the disease.  Trans fat, saturated fat and sugars can all increase the risk of the disease. (JD)