Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsVitamin D and DiabetesManaging With Vitamin DOther Health BenefitsPreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Vitamin D and Diabetes
Managing With Vitamin D
Other Health Benefits
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
Interest invitamin Dand its role in the prevention and treatment ofdiabeteshas grown tremendously over the past two decades. Despite many studies showing a connection between vitamin D and diabetes, uncertainty of vitamin D’s effects still exists.
This article will explore available research surrounding vitamin D and type 2 diabetes and how to ensure you get enough of this important vitamin.
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Vitamin D and Diabetes Prevention
The belief thatvitamin Dstatus may influence the development oftype 2 diabetesseems reasonable. Low vitamin D levels have been linked to high levels of inflammatory markers, impaired pancreatic beta-cell function (cells that makeinsulin), andinsulin resistance(when your body’s cells don’t respond well to insulin and can’t take up enough glucose to use for energy)—all of which can lead to type 2 diabetes.
While observational studies suggest that individuals with low vitamin D levels are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, research remains mixed on whethervitamin D supplementationlowers the risk of diabetes.
The Research
In an extensive study, researchers followed 2,423 adults at high risk for diabetes for an average of 2.5 years. Half of the participants were provided 4,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D supplementation, and the others were given a placebo (an identical pill that did not contain vitamin D). The research found:
Another review of studies found that vitamin D supplementation may delay the development of diabetes in people withprediabetesandvitamin D deficiency. However, no benefit was seen in those with normal vitamin D levels.
Managing Type 2 Diabetes With Vitamin D
Research suggests that individuals with type 2 diabetes often have a vitamin D deficiency. One study noted people with type 2 diabetes and vitamin D deficiency are more likely to haveinflammationand a higherhemoglobin A1c(A1C) than those who do not have a deficiency. The reversal of vitamin D deficiency could improve this population’s insulin secretion and A1C levels.
A review of 29 trials found no noticeable differences in fastingblood glucose levels, but a significant reduction in A1C after vitamin D supplementation was observed. Participants who were deficient in vitamin D experienced more significant reductions in A1C.
In another study, participants with type 2 diabetes who took a vitamin D supplement with the antidiabetic drugmetforminhad lower A1C levels over three and six months compared to those who only took metformin.Researchers called for further investigation to determine the optimal dose of vitamin D in people with type 2 diabetes.
Other Health Benefits of Vitamin D
Although research on vitamin D and diabetes remains inconclusive, vitamin D has manyhealth benefitsfor the body. The most important is its ability to help your body absorb calcium, which is essential for normal bone mineralization.
In children, a vitamin D deficiency can cause the rare disease known asrickets, which can lead to delayed growth, bowed legs, and weakness due to softening of the bones. In teens and adults, vitamin D deficiency can causeosteomalacia(a softening of the bones) that also causes muscle weakness and bone pain. Long-term deficits in vitamin D and calcium can lead toosteoporosis(a condition of weak or brittle bones).
Your nerves and muscles also need vitamin D to function, and your immune system needs vitamin D to fight viruses and bacterial infections.
Studies have found that long-term vitamin D deficiency may lead to inflammatory diseases, including the autoimmune conditionsrheumatoid arthritisandlupus, as well asinflammatory bowel disease(IBD). However, more research is needed to confirm this.
Preventing Vitamin D Deficiency
The amount of vitamin D a person needs daily to prevent a deficiency depends on age. Current daily recommended dietary allowances for vitamin D are:
Most adults can safely consume up to 4,000 IU daily. The best way to prevent vitamin D deficiency is to ensure you get adequate amounts of vitamin D from the foods you eat, dietary supplements, and sun exposure.
Vitamin D and Your Diet
Foods that contain vitamin D include:
Foods fortified with vitamin D provide most of the vitamin D in your diet. These include:
Sunlight and Vitamin DAlthough the sun is your best source of vitamin D, it can be challenging to meet your daily needs this way, especially during the winter. People with dark skin and older adults may also struggle to get enough vitamin D because their skin doesn’t make enough of it when exposed to sunlight.
Sunlight and Vitamin D
Although the sun is your best source of vitamin D, it can be challenging to meet your daily needs this way, especially during the winter. People with dark skin and older adults may also struggle to get enough vitamin D because their skin doesn’t make enough of it when exposed to sunlight.
If you suspect a vitamin D deficiency, your healthcare provider can order a simple blood test to check your vitamin D levels.
Summary
Vitamin D is necessary to help your body absorb calcium. It also affects your immune, muscle, and nervous systems. While several observational studies suggest that vitamin D may play a role in treating and preventing type 2 diabetes, more research is still needed.
The potential benefit of vitamin D supplementation appears to be more significant among individuals with a confirmed vitamin D deficiency. Some food, sunlight, and supplements are good sources of vitamin D.
A Word From Verywell
Frequently Asked QuestionsResearch on vitamins and supplements for diabetes is inconclusive. Unless you have a confirmed nutrient deficiency or your healthcare provider recommends adding a specific vitamin to your supplement regimen, it’s unlikely to be helpful.There is no established dose of vitamin D recommended for people with diabetes. The recommended daily amount of vitamin D is 600 IU for individuals ages 1 to 70 and 800 IU for those over 70.It is believed that vitamin D plays a role in blood sugar regulation because it boosts insulin secretion through the vitamin D receptor on pancreatic beta cells. Vitamin D can also reduce insulin resistance through its receptors in the liver and muscles.
Research on vitamins and supplements for diabetes is inconclusive. Unless you have a confirmed nutrient deficiency or your healthcare provider recommends adding a specific vitamin to your supplement regimen, it’s unlikely to be helpful.
There is no established dose of vitamin D recommended for people with diabetes. The recommended daily amount of vitamin D is 600 IU for individuals ages 1 to 70 and 800 IU for those over 70.
It is believed that vitamin D plays a role in blood sugar regulation because it boosts insulin secretion through the vitamin D receptor on pancreatic beta cells. Vitamin D can also reduce insulin resistance through its receptors in the liver and muscles.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pittas AG, Jorde R, Kawahara T, Dawson-Hughes B.Vitamin d supplementation for prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus: To d or not to d?The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.2020;105(12):3721-3733. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgaa594Pittas AG, Dawson-Hughes B, Sheehan P, et al.Vitamin d supplementation and prevention of type 2 diabetes.New England Journal of Medicine. 2019;381(6):520-530. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1900906Vitamin D and Type 2 Diabetes.A summary of the D2d study results and what they mean.Chang Villacreses MM, Karnchanasorn R, Panjawatanan P, Ou HY, Chiu KC.Conundrum of vitamin D on glucose and fuel homeostasis.World J Diabetes. 2021;12(9):1363-1385. doi:10.4239/wjd.v12.i9.1363Khudayar M, Nadeem A, Lodi MN, et al.The association between deficiency of vitamin d and diabetes mellitus type 2(Dmt2).Cureus. doi:10.7759/cureus.22221Lee CJ, Iyer G, Liu Y, et al.The effect of vitamin D supplementation on glucose metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention studies.J Diabetes Complications. 2017;31(7):1115-1126. doi:10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2017.04.019Cojic M, Kocic R, Klisic A, Kocic G.The effects of vitamin d supplementation on metabolic and oxidative stress markers in patients with type 2 diabetes: a 6-month follow up randomized controlled study.Front Endocrinol.2021;12:610893. doi:10.3389/fendo.2021.610893National Institutes of Health.Vitamin D.Bui L, Zhu Z, Hawkins S, Cortez-Resendiz A, Bellon A.Vitamin D regulation of the immune system and its implications for COVID-19: A mini review.SAGE Open Medicine. 2021;9:205031212110140. doi:10.1177/205031212110140Medline Plus.Vitamin D deficiency.American Diabetes Association.Vitamins & diabetes.National Institutes of Health.Vitamin D.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pittas AG, Jorde R, Kawahara T, Dawson-Hughes B.Vitamin d supplementation for prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus: To d or not to d?The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.2020;105(12):3721-3733. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgaa594Pittas AG, Dawson-Hughes B, Sheehan P, et al.Vitamin d supplementation and prevention of type 2 diabetes.New England Journal of Medicine. 2019;381(6):520-530. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1900906Vitamin D and Type 2 Diabetes.A summary of the D2d study results and what they mean.Chang Villacreses MM, Karnchanasorn R, Panjawatanan P, Ou HY, Chiu KC.Conundrum of vitamin D on glucose and fuel homeostasis.World J Diabetes. 2021;12(9):1363-1385. doi:10.4239/wjd.v12.i9.1363Khudayar M, Nadeem A, Lodi MN, et al.The association between deficiency of vitamin d and diabetes mellitus type 2(Dmt2).Cureus. doi:10.7759/cureus.22221Lee CJ, Iyer G, Liu Y, et al.The effect of vitamin D supplementation on glucose metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention studies.J Diabetes Complications. 2017;31(7):1115-1126. doi:10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2017.04.019Cojic M, Kocic R, Klisic A, Kocic G.The effects of vitamin d supplementation on metabolic and oxidative stress markers in patients with type 2 diabetes: a 6-month follow up randomized controlled study.Front Endocrinol.2021;12:610893. doi:10.3389/fendo.2021.610893National Institutes of Health.Vitamin D.Bui L, Zhu Z, Hawkins S, Cortez-Resendiz A, Bellon A.Vitamin D regulation of the immune system and its implications for COVID-19: A mini review.SAGE Open Medicine. 2021;9:205031212110140. doi:10.1177/205031212110140Medline Plus.Vitamin D deficiency.American Diabetes Association.Vitamins & diabetes.National Institutes of Health.Vitamin D.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Pittas AG, Jorde R, Kawahara T, Dawson-Hughes B.Vitamin d supplementation for prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus: To d or not to d?The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.2020;105(12):3721-3733. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgaa594Pittas AG, Dawson-Hughes B, Sheehan P, et al.Vitamin d supplementation and prevention of type 2 diabetes.New England Journal of Medicine. 2019;381(6):520-530. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1900906Vitamin D and Type 2 Diabetes.A summary of the D2d study results and what they mean.Chang Villacreses MM, Karnchanasorn R, Panjawatanan P, Ou HY, Chiu KC.Conundrum of vitamin D on glucose and fuel homeostasis.World J Diabetes. 2021;12(9):1363-1385. doi:10.4239/wjd.v12.i9.1363Khudayar M, Nadeem A, Lodi MN, et al.The association between deficiency of vitamin d and diabetes mellitus type 2(Dmt2).Cureus. doi:10.7759/cureus.22221Lee CJ, Iyer G, Liu Y, et al.The effect of vitamin D supplementation on glucose metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention studies.J Diabetes Complications. 2017;31(7):1115-1126. doi:10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2017.04.019Cojic M, Kocic R, Klisic A, Kocic G.The effects of vitamin d supplementation on metabolic and oxidative stress markers in patients with type 2 diabetes: a 6-month follow up randomized controlled study.Front Endocrinol.2021;12:610893. doi:10.3389/fendo.2021.610893National Institutes of Health.Vitamin D.Bui L, Zhu Z, Hawkins S, Cortez-Resendiz A, Bellon A.Vitamin D regulation of the immune system and its implications for COVID-19: A mini review.SAGE Open Medicine. 2021;9:205031212110140. doi:10.1177/205031212110140Medline Plus.Vitamin D deficiency.American Diabetes Association.Vitamins & diabetes.National Institutes of Health.Vitamin D.
Pittas AG, Jorde R, Kawahara T, Dawson-Hughes B.Vitamin d supplementation for prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus: To d or not to d?The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.2020;105(12):3721-3733. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgaa594
Pittas AG, Dawson-Hughes B, Sheehan P, et al.Vitamin d supplementation and prevention of type 2 diabetes.New England Journal of Medicine. 2019;381(6):520-530. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1900906
Vitamin D and Type 2 Diabetes.A summary of the D2d study results and what they mean.
Chang Villacreses MM, Karnchanasorn R, Panjawatanan P, Ou HY, Chiu KC.Conundrum of vitamin D on glucose and fuel homeostasis.World J Diabetes. 2021;12(9):1363-1385. doi:10.4239/wjd.v12.i9.1363
Khudayar M, Nadeem A, Lodi MN, et al.The association between deficiency of vitamin d and diabetes mellitus type 2(Dmt2).Cureus. doi:10.7759/cureus.22221
Lee CJ, Iyer G, Liu Y, et al.The effect of vitamin D supplementation on glucose metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention studies.J Diabetes Complications. 2017;31(7):1115-1126. doi:10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2017.04.019
Cojic M, Kocic R, Klisic A, Kocic G.The effects of vitamin d supplementation on metabolic and oxidative stress markers in patients with type 2 diabetes: a 6-month follow up randomized controlled study.Front Endocrinol.2021;12:610893. doi:10.3389/fendo.2021.610893
National Institutes of Health.Vitamin D.
Bui L, Zhu Z, Hawkins S, Cortez-Resendiz A, Bellon A.Vitamin D regulation of the immune system and its implications for COVID-19: A mini review.SAGE Open Medicine. 2021;9:205031212110140. doi:10.1177/205031212110140
Medline Plus.Vitamin D deficiency.
American Diabetes Association.Vitamins & diabetes.
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