Lack of Vitamin D Increase the Risk of Diabetes

Research experts revealed the relation between low levels of vitamin D with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. In research released at the annual meeting of The Endocrine Society in Houston, researchers found an inverse relationship between vitamin D levels in the blood with metabolic syndrome, which is a group of risk factors for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Researchers reported that those with the highest levels of vitamin D in their blood had 48 percent lower risk of having metabolic syndrome than people with low vitamin D levels.

"This association has been documented before, but we are expanding our association for people from various race and ethnic backgrounds," said lead researcher, Joanna Mitri, MD, a researcher at Tufts Medical Center, Boston.



According to researchers, all participants involved in the research group at risk for diabetes because they have pre-diabetes or have high blood sugar levels but can not be classified as diabetes.
Based on data from Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United States, pre-diabetes affects approximately 79 million Americans aged 20 or older.

In his study, Mitri and colleagues divided the participants into three groups based on levels of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D, the most commonly used way to measure vitamin D in the body. Institute of Medicine states, levels of vitamin D in the blood considered normal if 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are at level 20 to 30 ng / mL.

The group with the highest levels of vitamin D have concentration level of vitamin D average of 30.6 nanograms per milliliter (ng / mL), and at the lowest concentration of vitamin D have an average of 12.1 ng / mL. The findings showed that participants with low vitamin D levels have risk for metabolic syndrome.

Researchers also found that participants with the best vitamin D level has  smaller waist circumference, higher good cholesterol (HDL) and lower blood sugar levels.

Mitri warned, their study does not prove that vitamin D deficiency causes diabetes type 2.