A recently published systematic review and meta-analysis published in Diabetes Care has found that vitamin D supplementation may play a role in the management of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
The systematic review and meta-analysis, which included a total of 4896 participants from eight separate clinical trials, observed that the supplementation of vitamin D may help to:
- lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in patients with prediabetes
- return a patient with prediabetes (elevated blood glucose levels) to normoglycemia (optimal blood glucose levels).
Past scientific studies have shown that vitamin D supplementation is linked to improved health outcomes and the prevention of medical conditions, such as diabetes, where vitamin D helps to regulate insulin production in the body and decrease insulin resistance.
Further investigation is necessary to determine the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation on preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes in addition to the currently recommended treatments. Further research is also needed to understand whether the benefits of vitamin D supplementation remain effective in the longer term.
Cited: Zhang, Z., Tan, H., et al. (2020). Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes in Patients With Prediabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Diabetes Care, 43(7), 1650-1658. doi: 10.2337/dc19-1708.