Warning! Low level of this key nutrient may make it more difficult to manage diabetes.

There are numerous reasons why to have adequate amount of Vitamin D in your blood.   Why you ask? Vitamin D is a unique vitamin, unlike other vitamins, because when Vitamin D is in the body it turns it into a hormone called calcitriol. That is when the magic begins! Active vitamin D is one of many body hormones, chemical messengers that regulate body functions.

“Activated vitamin D is one of the most potent inhibitors of cancer cell growth,” says Michael F. Holick, PhD, MD, who heads the Vitamin D, Skin, and Bone Research Laboratory at Boston University School of Medicine. https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/vitamin-d-vital-role-in-your-health#1

Vitamin D receptors are on nearly all cells in our bodies.

 

                          Read on to learn how Vitamin D is a vital nutrient!

 

Vitamin D is called the “sunshine vitamin” because the body produces the nutrient when skin is exposed to sunlight. Also we get Vitamin D from the food we eat, and nutritional supplements.

 

Most of us know that Vitamin D is important along with calcium to help strengthen our bones.  Our bodies cannot use the calcium we get if we do not have Vitamin D.

Vitamin D actually plays a staring role in our body!  In addition to bone health it can strengthen our immune system and help manage diabetes.  Do you get many colds in the winter? It may be because your Vitamin D is low.

“A study also showed that Vitamin D could aid in weight loss if an overweight or obese person is deficient in the vitamin and they supplement with Vitamin D.

https://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/news/20150508/vitamin-d-supplements-might-help-some-lose-weight#2

 

“Vitamin D is believed to help improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin – the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar levels – and thus reduce the risk of insulin resistance, which is often a precursor to Type 2 diabetes.” https://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/vitamin-d.html

“In people with type 2 diabetes, insufficient vitamin D levels may negatively effect insulin secretion and glucose tolerance.” https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161618.php

 

There is an epidemic worldwide of Vitamin D deficiency in our bodies.  Why is this the case? Much of this happens because there are not many foods that contain Vitamin D. Most people cannot get enough Vitamin D from food.

Foods that contain Vitamin D are:

  • Fatty fish, like tuna, mackerel, and salmon.

  • Foods that are “fortified “with vitamin D (meaning it gets added to) dairy products, orange juice, soymilk, and cereals.

  • Cheese and egg yolks.

 

Also, there is a Vitamin D deficiency epidemic because If one takes a multivitamin there usually is not adequate amounts of Vitamin D.

 

More barriers to getting Vitamin D synthesis through sun exposure is due to fear of skin cancer, increased use of sunscreen, hats and sun barriers.

There are environmental factors such as pollution and fewer hours of sun exposure during the winter (especially in latitudes north of ∼ 37°). Exposure to light through windows is insufficient because glass almost completely blocks UVB light.  

Also being overweight or obese (Vitamin D is sequestered in the fat cells) and dark colored skin. (Darker skin contains more melanin, which equates to greater protection against ultraviolet radiation exposure. Because of this protective effect, people with darker skin must spend more time in the sun to make vitamin D compared to those with lighter skin colors.)

 

How much of Vitamin D should we get?

The Institute of Medicine recommends “600 IU/day of vitamin D for individuals aged 9–70 years and 800 IU/day for those > 70 years of age. However, others recommend that supplementation with vitamin D3 should be prescribed with the objective of achieving a serum 25(OH) D level of at least 40 ng/ml and possibly even 60 ng/ml.” http://spectrum.diabetesjournals.org/content/24/2/113

Some experts believe the doses recommended are not adequate to reach 40-60 ng/ml.

 

The upper limit for vitamin D is 1,000 to 1,500 IU/day for infants, 2,500 to 3,000 IU/day for children 1-8 years, and 4,000 IU/day for children 9 years and older, adults, and pregnant and lactating teens and women. Excessive sun exposure doesn’t cause vitamin D poisoning because the body limits the amount of this vitamin it produces.https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-Consumer

 

Bottom Line:

Vitamin D can assist with management of diabetes.  In addition it helps with other things in the body. Many people are deficient in Vitamin D due to not many foods with Vitamin D and minimal exposure to sun.

Vitamin D has an advantage in people with diabetes. It has been proven Vitamin D supplementation not only reduces the risk of getting diabetes but also has many positive effects on people living with diabetes.

Consider asking your doctor to get your blood tested for Vitamin D3. Ask your doctor if Vitamin D is recommended for you.

Jane Giambrone