Vitamin D - The Now Nutrient Of The Millenia

ScienceDaily (Jan. 14, 2009) — Vitamin D is quickly becoming the "now" nutrient with health

benefits for diseases, including cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease and now diabetes.

In a recent article, Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing researchers

concluded that "adequate intake of vitamin D may prevent or delay the onset of diabetes and

reduce complications for those who have already been diagnosed." See the latest issue of

Diabetes Educator.

"Vitamin D has widespread benefits for our health and certain chronic diseases in particular," said Sue Penckofer, Ph.D., R.N., study co-author and professor, Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. "This article (in Diabetes Educator) further substantiates the role of this nutrient in the prevention and management of glucose intolerance and diabetes."

Evaluation of 3,000 people with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes found that they had low Vitamin D

levels, resulting from poor nutrition and reduced exposure to sunlight. Evidence from the

study suggested that Vitamin D plays an integral role in both insulin sensitivity and

secretion, and that it may be significant in the prevention of the disease."Management of vitamin D deficiency may be a simple and cost-effective method to improve blood sugar control and prevent the serious complications associated with diabetes," said Joanne Kouba, Ph.D., R.D., L.D.N., study co-author and clinical assistant professor of dietetics, Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. "Diet alone may not be sufficient to manage vitamin D levels. A combination of adequate dietary intake of vitamin D, exposure to sunlight, and treatment with vitamin D2 or D3 supplements can decrease the risk of diabetes and related health concerns. The preferred range in the body is 30 - 60 ng/mL of 25(OH) vitamin D. People at risk for diabetes should be screened for low vitamin D levels. This will allow health care professionals to identify a nutrient deficiency early on and intervene to improve the long term health of these individuals," said Mary Ann Emanuele, M.D., F.A.C.P., study co-author and professor of medicine, division of endocrinology and metabolism, Loyola University Health System.

In an article published in the December, 9, 2008, issue of the Journal of the American

College of Cardiology (JACC), practical recommendations for screening and treating low

vitamin D levels are proposed. "Vitamin D deficiency is an unrecognized, emerging

cardiovascular risk factor, which should be screened for and treated," said James H.

O'Keefe, M.D., cardiologist and director of Preventive Cardiology at the Mid America Heart

Institute, Kansas City, MO. "Vitamin D is easy to assess, and supplementation is simple,

safe and inexpensive."