Vitamin D may prevent Type 1 Diabetes, based on strong scientific evidence, as I will share with you in this article. Unfortunately, most doctors, including endocrinologists are not aware of these scientific studies. You may wonder why? In my opinion, pharmaceutical and biotech industries continue to manipulate the knowledge that doctors receive through medical training. They are told that Type 1 diabetes is not preventable.
Let’s look at some of the solid scientific evidence that points in the other direction. Yes, Type 1 diabetes is preventable by making simple changes in life style. One such healthy lifestyle habit is to take vitamin D supplements. Why? Because vitamin D deficiency is linked to the development of autoimmune diseases including Type 1 diabetes. Other factors that have been linked to Type 1 diabetes are: anxiety, infections, food additives and preservatives.
In this article, I will focus on Vitamin D deficiency and how to correct it.
Relationship Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes develops due to malfunctioning of the immune system. As a result, immune system starts to attack and kill the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This attack by the immune system goes on for a while (as evidenced by specific antibodies) before a person develops diabetes. Mounting scientific evidence indicates that Vitamin D plays a vital role in the normal functioning of the immune system. Consequently, Vitamin D deficiency can lead to malfunctioning of the immune system. Then, your own immune system starts to attack (and kill) your own insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Improperly hyped-up immune system reacts as if insulin-producing cells are foreign agents and must be destroyed. Once you are unable to produce insulin, you develop Type 1 diabetes.
Researchers have investigated the level of Vitamin D in patients with Type 1 diabetes and found it to be low in the vast majority of these patients. In a study, published in 2009 in Pediatrics, researchers from the Joslin Diabetes Center noted that the vast majority ( 75%) of their Type 1 diabetic patients were deficient in Vitamin D.1 The study was done in children and teenagers. In my clinical practice, I check Vitamin D level in all of my Type 1 diabetic patients and find it to be low in virtually all of them.
Evidence That Vitamin D May Prevent Type 1 Diabetes
Compelling scientific evidence now exists to show that proper Vitamin D supplementation can prevent Type 1 diabetes. One such landmark study comes from Finland.2 A total of 10,821 children born in 1966 in northern Finland were enrolled in the study. Frequency of Vitamin D supplementation was recorded during the first year of life. At that time, the recommended dose of Vitamin D for infants in Finland was 2000 I.U. per day. Researchers followed these children for 31 years to see how many of them developed Type 1 diabetes. Amazing results: Those children who received 2000 I.U. of Vitamin D per day during the first year of life had an almost 80% reduction in the risk for the development of Type 1 diabetes compared to those who received less Vitamin D.
Why Doctors Are Not Aware Of This Study?
This is a ground breaking study! If some drug achieved this kind of result, it would hit the headlines and become the standard of care at once, isn’t it. Sadly, even many diabetes experts are not aware of this amazing study even though the study was published in 2001 in the prestigious British medical journal called Lancet. Investigators in the U.S. continue to spend millions of dollars in their pursuit of a “drug” to prevent Type 1 diabetes. So far, this kind of research has produced disappointing results. Amazingly, they have largely ignored the strong evidence that shows the outstanding role of Vitamin D in preventing Type 1 diabetes. Vitamin D is not a drug. There is no glory or huge profits in simply telling people to take enough Vitamin D.
Dose Of Vitamin D is Important
It is interesting to note that the recommended allowance of Vitamin D for infants in Finland was reduced from 2000 I.U. to 1000 I.U. per day in 1975 and then further reduced to 400 I.U. per day in 1992. (For comparison, in the U.S. it has been 200 I.U. a day). This reduction in the daily allowance had no scientific basis except the observation that this amount of Vitamin D is present in a teaspoonful of cod-liver oil which has long been considered safe and effective in preventing rickets.
In the last decades, the incidence of Type 1 diabetes in Finland has been climbing, which is most likely related to the decrease in the daily recommended allowance of Vitamin D. As of 1999, Finland has the highest reported incidence of Type 1 diabetes in the world.3 In Finland, the yearly sunshine (and therefore, Vitamin D skin synthesis) is much lower compared to more southern areas. Therefore, the population in Finland is at even higher risk for Vitamin D deficiency.
Not only in Finland, but in other countries as well, scientists have discovered the amazing power of Vitamin D supplementation in preventing Type 1 diabetes. In one such study called EURODIAB researchers found Vitamin D supplementation during infancy can significantly reduce the risk for developing Type 1 diabetes.4 This study was carried out in seven centers in different countries across a variety of populations in Europe.
Study from the USA on Vitamin D and Type 1 Diabetes
Here is an excellent scientific study from the USA. It clearly shows that adequate Vitamin D level can prevent Diabetes.
In a a case-control study, researchers analyzed data from healthy military service members between 2002-2008.5 Researchers looked at the stored Vitamin D level of 1000 cases who later developed Type 1. Findings: There was a clear inverse relationship between the level of Vitamin D and the risk of developing Type 1 diabetes. In other words, individuals with lower levels of Vitamin D were at a significant risk of developing Type 1 diabetes than those with higher levels of vitamin D.
These researchers also found that a Vitamin D level more than 25 ng/ml was associated with a 3.5-fold lower risk of developing Type 1 Diabetes. In other words, vitamin D level more than 25 ng/ml lowered the risk of Type 1 diabetes by 3.5 folds. This reduction in the risk of developing Type 1 diabetes is huge. If some drug did this, it would become a block-buster drug. Amazingly, medical organizations continue to ignore the power of vitamin D to prevent Type 1 diabetes.
What Dose Of Vitamin D?
Based on the study from Finland (cited above), vitamin D3 at a dose of 2000 IU per day seems appropriate and safe. However, it is up to the pediatricians and parents of these children to make that decision.
In Conclusion
Type 1 diabetes is preventable. One simple action is to give Vitamin D supplements – in proper dose – to children form day one. In addition, all the relatives of anyone with Type diabetes (or any other autoimmune disorder) should take vitamin D supplements. Be aware that a dose of 400 IU per day of vitamin D does not seem to prevent Type 1 diabetes or other autoimmune disease.
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References:
- Svoren BM, Volkening LK, Wood JR, Laffel LM. Significant vitamin D deficiency in youth with Type 1 diabetes mellitus. J Pediatr.2009;154(1):132-134.
- Hypponen E, Laara E, Reunanen A, et al. Intake of vitamin D and risk of Type 1 diabetes: a birth-cohort study. Lancet 2001;358:1500-1503.
- Onkamo P, Vaananen S, Karvonen M, Tuomilchto J. Worldwide increase in incidence of Type 1 diabetes: the analysis of the data on published incidence trends. Diabetologia 1999;42:1395-1403.
- The EURODIAB Substudy 2 Study Group. Vitamin D supplementation in early childhood and risk for Type 1 (insulin- dependent) diabetes mellitus. Diabetologia 1999;42:51-54.
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22955995
https://www.doctorzaidi.com/vitamin-d-deficiency-symptoms-test-treatment-toxicity/
