Vitamin D deficiency and type 2 diabetes
- Department of Diabetes and Metabolism, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK
- Correspondence to Dr Tahseen A Chowdhury, Department of Diabetes and Metabolism, 7th Floor, John Harrison House, The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London E1 1BB, UK; tahseen.chowdhury{at}bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk
- Received 1 January 2009
- Accepted 16 September 2009
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes is a major public health problem, accounting for significant premature mortality and morbidity. The growth in prevalence of the condition appears to be closely linked with obesity. Over the last 5 years, a number of large observational studies have suggested an association between the onset of type 2 diabetes and Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D has important effects on insulin action, and may impact on a number of pathways which may be of importance in the development of type 2 diabetes. This article reviews the evidence linking Vitamin D deficiency in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, and suggests areas for urgent further research to determine whether Vitamin D replacement has a role in the prevention of type 2 diabetes.
Footnotes
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Competing interests None.
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Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
