# Vitamin D Improves Insulin Sensitivity.

Category: Health and Wellness

## Post 1 by laced-unlaced (Account disabled) on Friday, 12-Mar-2010 9:20:32

(NaturalNews) High-dose vitamin D supplements may help increase the body's sensitivity to the blood sugar-regulating hormone insulin, thus reducing the risk of diabetes, researchers have found.
Insulin resistance (or insensitivity) occurs when the body's tissues stop responding as strongly to the presence of insulin. As a consequence, the cells uptake less sugar from the bloodstream, producing the elevated glucose levels characteristic of diabetes.
In the current study, conducted by researchers from Massey University and published in the British Journal of Nutrition, researchers randomly assigned 81 South Asian women between the ages of 23 and 68 to take either a placebo or 4,000 IU of vitamin D once per day. All participants suffered from insulin sensitivity at the start of the study, but none were taking diabetes drugs or vitamin D supplements larger than 1,000 IU per day.
At the start of the study, the average participant had vitamin D blood levels of approximately 50 nanomoles per liter, slightly lower than the average levels in a U.S. adult (60-75 nmol/L). After six months, women in the vitamin D group exhibited significantly more insulin sensitivity and less insulin resistance than women who had received a placebo. The largest effect was seen in women whose vitamin D blood levels had reached 80 to 119 nmol/L.
According to the Vitamin D Council, blood levels should be at least 125 nmol/L for optimal health.
Vitamin D has long been known to play an important role in bone and tooth health, and recommended daily intakes were originally calculated for these functions. Yet a growing body of research suggests that much higher intakes may be required to gain protection against cancer, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other chronic illnesses.
Health professionals currently debate what daily intakes are ideal, with the U.S. government recommending 200 IU for adults between the ages of 19 and 50, 400 IU for those aged 51 to 70, and 600 IU for those over the age of 70. The British government recommends that those at high risk of deficiency take a daily supplement of 1,000 IU. Yet studies such as the Massey University one keep pointing up the benefits of higher doses.
The study is not the first to connect vitamin D and diabetes. A 2009 meta-analysis published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that higher blood levels of vitamin D lowered diabetes risk. Likewise, in a study published in the journal Diabetic Medicine, researchers from the Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research in New Delhi found that a large dose of vitamin D significantly improved insulin sensitivity after meals in 71 men who were healthy except for central obesity.
Central obesity -- along with high blood pressure and high levels of fasting blood glucose, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol -- is a symptom of the condition known as metabolic syndrome, a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Diabetes is widespread in the United States, with 24 million people diagnosed and 5.6 million undiagnosed, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The National Institute of Health estimates that a further 70 to 80 million people suffer from metabolic syndrome or other "pre-diabetic" conditions. Some researchers have suggested that the nation's high rate of vitamin D deficiency might be partially to blame for this phenomenon.
Exposure to sunlight is still considered the healthiest way to get vitamin D, as the body can synthesize all it needs in only a fraction of the time it takes to acquire a tan. Health professionals recommend 15 minutes of sun every day on at least the face and hands for light-skinned people, and up to three times as much for people with dark skin. More time in the sun or some form of dietary supplementation may be necessary during the winter for people living far from the equator, especially those with dark skin.

## Post 2 by turricane (happiness and change are choices ) on Friday, 12-Mar-2010 12:34:14

this makes a lot of sense. thanks for sharing.
i have a 10 for vitamin d. if you are nine or below they hospitalize you. so i already take high doses which have also seemed to effect my sugar in a good way. thought it was just me thoug.

## Post 3 by laced-unlaced (Account disabled) on Friday, 12-Mar-2010 13:56:48

hey,
you're welcome.
glad you liked the artickle.
never knew about having it below 10... interesting.

## Post 4 by Blue Velvet (I've got the platinum golden silver bronze poster award.) on Friday, 12-Mar-2010 18:35:10

I currently take a supplement that includes 1000 i.u. of vitamin D along with other vitamins. I am going to add a separat capsule of 1000 i.u. of vitamin D for a total of 2000 i.u. This is 10 times more than the recommended dosage, but I've always felt the recommended allowances are too low in this country. In addition, spring weather is on its way, and I plan to try to get at least a few minutes of sun every day. I am diabetic, so I don't know if this will help, but it can't hurt.

## Post 5 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Friday, 12-Mar-2010 18:58:15

So, not to sound weird or anything, but what about putting UV lights, sometimes called terrarium lights - or grow lights if you're bent that way - over a diabetic's work area?
Vitamin D is a major issue for birds and lots of us have used those on them. If you're light-sensitive, they're supposed to be pretty gentle, if you're close to one it doe s feel like the sun *used to* ... like the way the sun felt in the 70s or so ...
Anyway even Home Depot has them, though pet stores of course do.
If you're image conscious they are cylindrical and don't take a ton of space, you could stick it in the ceiling above your desk or whatever. They're not real heavy; remember they're placed atop a wire cage for a bird, or even a wire screen for a reptile.
They can get intense but you could just turn them on or off.
Dunnow what the medical types would think, but those of us has have kept birds before used them. They take a long time to burn out ... hence they're used for growing stuff.

## Post 6 by turricane (happiness and change are choices ) on Monday, 15-Mar-2010 12:06:33

libra lady,
if you are going to increase your vitamin d intake, it might be wise to discuss it with your physician. unlike c and d which are water soluble d a and e are fat soluble. this means you can possible od on them. this can make you toxic. a simple blood test every couple months is a good preventative. also, your doc can give you a base line screening to determine the most effective dosage.
Oh interestingly, the vitamin d from mr. sun is absorbed differently and you can never od on it. all you need is to sit in the sun for a minimum of 20 minutes each day.
robo the grow lights you mention for greenhouses or birds are not strong enough for humans. they make light boxes for people who have SAD, which is seasonal affective disorder. Tsitting in front of one of those for 20 minutes works the same as outside.

## Post 7 by OceanDream (An Ocean of Thoughts) on Monday, 15-Mar-2010 12:14:50

I think I'll be spending more time in the sun, then. Supplaments are not quite as good as the natural vitamins, but they will work.

## Post 8 by The SHU interpreter (I just keep on posting!) on Sunday, 19-Sep-2010 0:36:17

i'm diagnosed with vit D deficiency. is that bad? what are the early signs of that? i have to take these stupid suplements which i'm gonna hate because suplements are not the same as natural vitamins. and i can't take over the counter ones because the doctor has to monitor my levels. and she's going to see me next month for another appointment and discuss thoroughly the lab results and test the levels again

## Post 9 by The SHU interpreter (I just keep on posting!) on Sunday, 19-Sep-2010 0:40:22

i don't know what my level is but she said that it's moderate deficiency.

## Post 10 by The SHU interpreter (I just keep on posting!) on Sunday, 19-Sep-2010 0:43:13

what's the causes of vitamin D defficiency? i looked up in google but i can't really find usful info