China: Study on Vitamin D Supplementation

The researchers in a recent study have demonstrated modest improvement in insulin sensitivity, glucose homeostasis, and disease development in diabetes and prediabetes with vitamin D supplementation of 25(OH)D < 30 ng/ml. The study appears in the Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition.

In the study, Yutong Zou, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and colleagues aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on glucose homeostasis, islet function, and diabetes progress.

For this purpose, the authors searched the literature via electronic databases, websites, and previous reviews from the earliest available time to the end of May 2020. The study included randomized controlled trials initially designed for diabetes and prediabetes with 25-dihydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] < 30 ng/ml. All data were analyzed and presented based on the Cochrane guidelines and PRISMA guidelines.

A total of 27 articles (n = 1,932) were enrolled in the study.

Study Findings

• Vitamin D supplementation significantly improved fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose, and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index in diabetes and prediabetes with baseline 25(OH)D < 30 ng/ml.
• Higher percentages regressing from prediabetes to normal glucose status [1.60, n = 564] and lower percentages progressing from prediabetes to diabetes [0.68, n = 569] were found in the supplementation group.
• The positive effects of vitamin D supplementation on body mass index, waist, HDL-C, LDL-C, and CRP were also demonstrated.

"Modest improvements in vitamin D supplementation on short-term glucose homeostasis, insulin sensitivity, and disease development in diabetes and prediabetes with 25(OH)D < 30 ng/ml were demonstrated," wrote the authors.

"More research needs to be conducted in the future to support the clinical application," they concluded.

Reference

The study titled, "Effect of vitamin D supplementation on glucose homeostasis and islet function in vitamin D deficient or insufficient diabetes and prediabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis," was published in the Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3164/jcbn.20-165