CAN LOW VITAMIN D CAUSE DIABETES?
Can having low levels of vitamin D cause diabetes?
Probably. Low blood levels of vitamin D are associated with diabetes and high blood pressure (Diabetes Care, January 31, 2011). Men and women with borderline high blood sugar (100-125) and high systolic blood pressure (120-129) are 2.4 times more likely to be deficient in vitamin D. They also have substantially larger waist circumferences and higher blood triglycerides, and lower good HDL cholesterol.
Before insulin can do its job of driving sugar into cells, it must first attach on special hooks, called insulin receptors on each cell. Lack of vitamin D prevents insulin from attaching to its receptors on cells. So insulin cannot do its job and blood sugar levels rise, which causes the pancreas to release huge amounts of insulin. Then the following events occur to comprise the metabolic syndrome that precedes diabetes:
- High Triglycerides – Insulin converts the elevated blood sugar to triglycerides.
- High Cholesterol - The liver takes triglyceride molecules and cholesterol molecules to form a lipoprotein that eventually is converted to the bad LDL cholesterol that damages arteries.
- Low Good HDL Cholesterol - as triglycerides flood the bloodstream, the good HDL cholesterol is used up carrying triglycerides from the bloodstream to the liver.
- Fat Belly – Insulin causes fat to be deposited in the belly and around organs.
- High Blood Pressure: Insulin constricts arteries to raise blood pressure.
In another study, diabetics were given:
1. yogurt
2. yogurt with vitamin D, or
3. yogurt with vitamin D and added calcium.
Both groups given vitamin D had much lower blood sugar levels than those given just yogurt (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, published online February 2, 2011).
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