Researchers in Denmark conducted a large 10-year prospective study among more than 2,600 adults (41 to 71 years) to examine the association between the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the blood, an indicator of vitamin D status, and diabetes incidence. Low vitamin D status was associated with a significantly higher incidence of diabetes in individuals with a high waist circumference or body mass index, but not those of normal weight. This suggests that overweight individuals may be more susceptible to the adverse effects of low vitamin D status. This association was independent of other potentially confounding factors, such as age, sex, season of blood collection, history of cardiovascular disease, physical activity, healthy food index, fish intake, supplement use, smoking status and educational level. The database used in this study did not distinguish between types of diabetes, but the authors say it is likely that the vast majority of new cases were type 2 diabetes.
A summary of research on Diabetes discusses the role of dairy foods in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and how dairy food components, including vitamin D, may contribute to its beneficial effect.
Husemoen LL, Skaaby T, Thuesen BH, Jørgensen T, Fenger RV, Linneberg A. Serum 25(OH)D and incident type 2 diabetes: a cohort study. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2012;66(12):1309-1314.
Abstract
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