Extra Vitamin D May Protect Against Later Type 1 Diabetes

March 13, 2008

Using vitamin D supplementation during infancy may confer some protection against later type 1 diabetes, according to research published online March 13 in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.

THURSDAY, March 13 (HealthDay News) -- Using vitamin D supplementation during infancy may confer some protection against later type 1 diabetes, according to research published online March 13 in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.

Christos S. Zipitis, of the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust in Stockport, the United Kingdom, and a colleague performed a systematic review and meta-analysis, which included four case-control studies and one cohort study.

According to the meta-analysis of the case-control studies, the risk of the disease was significantly lower in infants who received supplemental vitamin D (pooled odds ratio 0.71); the result of the cohort study was in agreement with these findings. The researchers also found a dose-response effect, with higher doses of vitamin D linked with a lower risk of developing type 1 diabetes. Timing of supplementation may also be important, according to the study results.

"Adequately powered, randomized, controlled trials with long periods of follow-up are needed to establish causality and the best formulation, dose, duration and period of supplementation," the authors conclude.

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