Vitamin D wasn't making the news much a few years ago. But increasingly, research on Vitamin D is revealing its versatility and strengths.
Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing has reported that Vitamin D may reduce the risk of diabetes and decrease the adverse effects upon those who already have diabetes.
Many people with diabetes do not have adequate levels of Vitamin D. Since Vitamin D seems to be involved with insulin sensitivity, this is a significant lack.
One study found that Vitamin D supplementation could have a positive effect on type 1 diabetes. Other studies suggest that Vitamin D could be instrumental in regulating type 2 diabetes as well.
Sue Penckofer, Ph.D., R.N., was the study co-author and is a professor at Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. She points out that Vitamin D plays a role in preventing and regulating glucose intolerance.
"Vitamin D deficiency also may be associated with hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, hypertension and heart disease. In fact, Penckofer recently published another study in Circulation that reported on the role of chronic vitamin D deficiency in heart disease."
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090112121821.htm