Vitamin D: Summary Papers To Provide Relevant Clinical Update

A summary of 6 papers exploring the various relationships discovered between Vit D status, health and disease risk.

Vitamin D Supplementation Improves Glycmic Control in Diabetes

Regular dosing of vitamin D (2000 IU/day) in early childhood has been shown to reduce the risk of developing Type 1 diabetes (up to an 80% reduction projected over the next 30 years), additionally, vitamin D treatment has improved glycemic control and insulin sensitivity in people with Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and normal individuals.”

Schwalfenberg, Gary. Vitamin D and diabetes – Improvement of glycemic control with vitamin D3 repletion. Canadian Family Physician, Vol 54: June 2008, p. 864-8 View Full Paper

Vitamin D Supplementation In Pregnant Women May Enhance Placental Immunity And Protect Against Infection

A recent study from the University of California, Los Angeles found that vitamin D supplementation in pregnant women increased the production of an antimicrobial protein called cathelicidin.  They concluded that despite the fact that the precise mechanism of vitamin D functioning within the placenta is undetermined, “data suggests that it may play a key role in placental innate immunity.

N. Liu, A.T. Kaplan, J. Low, L. Nguyen, G.Y. Liu, O. Equils, M. Hewison. Vitamin D induces innate antibacterial responses in human trophoblasts via an intracrine pathway. Biology of Reproduction. Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.108.073577. View Abstract

Low Serum Levels of Vitamin D Associated with All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality

A long-term study (median follow-up period of 7.7 years) found that low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were significantly correlated with variables of inflammation (C-reactive protein and interleukin 6 levels), oxidative burden (serum phospholipid and glutathione levels), and cell adhesion (vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and intracellular adhesion molecule 1) levels.  Collectively  supporting the model that low vitamin D levels are independently associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

Dobnig H, Pilz S, Scharnagl H, et al. Independent Association of Low Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and 1, 25-Dihydroxyvitamin D Levels With All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality. Arch Intern Med. 2008;1 68(12):1340-134 View Abstract

Low Vitamin D Status Associated with Increased Rick of Myocardial Infarction

In yet another study extolling the virtues of vitamin D, it has been noted that not only were low serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D associated with higher risk of myocardial infarction but also with controlling factors known to be associated with coronary artery disease.

Giovannucci E, Liu Y, Hollis B, Rimm E. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and risk of Myocardial Infarction in Men. Arch Intern Med. 2008; 168(11):1174-118 View Abstract

Vitamin D Insufficiency Associated With Increased Childhood Asthma Risk

A recent Costa Rican study of 616 children ages 6-14, found that “lower vitamin D levels are associated with increased markers of allergy and asthma severity.”  Their results also suggested that vitamin D deficiency is relatively common amongst equatorial populations.

Brehm JM, Celedon JC, Soto-Quiros ME, Avila L, Hunninghake GM, Forno E, Laskey D, Sylvia JS, Hollis BW, Weiss ST, Litonjua AA.  “Serum Vitamin D Levels and markers of Severity of Childhood Asthma in Costa Rica”. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care, Volume 179, Pages 765-771 View Abstrat

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Vitamin D Levels Linked To Increased Weight Loss Amongst Dieters

According to a recent study of dieters placed on a caloric-restricted diet, vitamin D status played a significant role in the total amount of weight loss.  For every increase of 1 ng/ml of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, study participants ended up losing almost 0.2 kg more in total weight loss.  Researchers concluded,

“our results suggest the possibility that the addition of vitamin D to a reduced-calorie diet will lead to better weight loss.”

The study, funded by the National Institute of Health, the University of Minnesota, and the Penncock Family Endowment at the University of Minnesota, was presented at the Endocrine Society’s 91st Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.