|
Recently there has been a lot of information published in the media about the benefits of vitamin D and how important it is for maintaining general health and possibly preventing certain diseases. In case you’ve missed some of the news  frenzy, this article should help to catch you up, particularly on the role of vitamin D in preventing diabetes.
There is a growing body of evidence that seems to point to vitamin D as a nutrient that helps prevent diabetes. Earlier studies have found that people with diabetes are lacking in vitamin D. Studies are also showing that supplementing vitamin D may help not only prevent diabetes but may also help people with diabetes manage their blood sugar.
Mary Ann Emanuele, M.D., F.A.C.P., professor medicine at Loyola University Health System recommends that, “People at risk for diabetes should be screened for low vitamin D levels.” The idea is that early screening can help people recognize deficiencies and allow them to take action early on to improve their health.
Why is all of the news about vitamin D so compelling? Well first of all if all of the data is true, it would mean that vitamin D supplementation would provide an easy and cost-effective way to help prevent and manage diabetes. It may also help prevent the complications of diabetes (such as heart attack, stroke, vision problems and nerve problems). Because diabetes is so heavily associated with these chronic conditions, it only stands to reason that vitamin D supplementation may help prevent these conditions too.
So how do we become deficient in vitamin D? Experts suspect that poor diet plays a role for most of us. A lack of exposure to sunlight may also be a culprit, especially in the winter months. Data suggests that a combination of diet, sunlight exposure and vitamin D supplements may all work together to help prevent diabetes. The preferred range in the body is 30 - 60 ng/mL of vitamin D. One should work with ones doctor to find the proper daily dose of vitamin D that will produce these levels. Simple blood tests can be used to determine the level of vitamin D in the body.
Although 400 I.U. of vitamin D daily has been the suggested daily intake for most, some people may require more than this to achieve ideal blood levels. One should take care not to take too much vitamin D. It is best to work with the doctor on measuring actual blood levels.
Author: Christi Larson, Pharm. D.
Dr. Larson is a pharmacist, author of Empowered Medicine; A Guide for Consumers and creator of Empowered Medicine. You can read more about her by visiting www.EmpoweredMedicine.com and clicking on the 'About Us' tab. EmpoweredMedicine.com is committed to providing evidence-based medical information from a pharmacist's point of view.
|
