Vitamin D in childhood prevents type 1 diabetes, new research suggests.
Lead author Dr. Jill Norris from the University of Colorado, said: "For several years there has been controversy among scientists about whether vitamin D reduces the risk of developing type 1 diabetes."
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, which occurs when a person's immune system attacks the cells that produce insulin. The condition is increasing by three to five percent a year, especially among children.
How was the study conducted?
Researchers analyzed 8,676 children from the US and Europe with a high risk of type 1 diabetes.
High diabetes risk was defined as the presence of at least one type 1 diabetes precursor antibody at at least two visits. The children were followed from infancy, with blood samples taken every three to six months.
Blood samples were taken to assess antibodies that appear when the immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin as a precursor to type 1 diabetes, as well as to determine vitamin D levels in the study participants.
Vitamin D prevents the onset of type 1 diabetes
The results show that children with low levels of vitamin D are more likely to produce antibodies that protect them from type 1 diabetes. Vitamin D is thought to prevent the onset of type 1 diabetes by regulating the immune system.
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