Many studies have evaluated the effect of vitamin d on insulin resistance, and the results are good. High-doses of vitamin D have been found to increase the body’s sensitivity to insulin, according to NaturalNew.com. In one study, noted by the website, 81 South Asian women between the ages of 23 and 68 were given either a placebo or a 4,000 IU vitamin D once per day. After 6 months, the women in the vitamin D group exhibited more insulin sensitivity than those in the placebo group, showing the effects of vitamin D on insulin resistance.
Diabetes is very widespread in the United States. Current statistic show that 24 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed and 5.6 million still have not. Metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes, and other metabolic disorders are also on the rise. Many researchers and scientists have suggested that deficiencies of Vitamin D and insulin resistance may be partially to blame.
Vitamin D and Insulin Resistance in Children
Growing numbers of people are developing diabetes in epic proportions. Now research is showing that vitamin D deficiency may have a lot to do with this. New research has begun to show the effects of vitamin deficiency during pregnancy. A study recently conducted in India found that children whose mothers had low vitamin D levels had higher insulin resistance, an indicator that they may one day develop diabetes.
This, however, works the other way as well. According to WebMd.com, a new study on vitamin D and insulin resistance show that higher levels of vitamin D in newborns have been linked to better insulin sensitivity at age 3. This means that higher vitamin D levels at birth may protect against insulin resistance in the future.
Another study, posted on News-Gazette.com, features a study which has found that obese children tend to have lower levels of vitamin D. This may lead them to have type-2 diabetes in the future. Obese children are already showing signs of insulin resistance as well. Poor eating habits such as skipping breakfast and drinking too much juice and soda contribute to these low vitamin D levels, according to the Endocrine Society.
Typically, type-2 diabetes is not diagnosed until after the age of 40. It is now becoming a growing problem among children and adolescence. This could be contributed to physical inactivity and obesity in children, or exposure to diabetes in utero. Vitamin D deficiency may be a contributing factor as well.
