The long-term use of high doses of vitamin D does not protect elderly people from developing type 2 diabetes, new evidence has revealed.
Researchers from the University of Eastern Finland have found using higher doses of vitamin D than recommended for five years does not reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Prior studies have indicated that people with low levels of vitamin D are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to those with higher levels.
Previous research has shown that the use of significantly higher doses of vitamin D can stop those with prediabetes from going on to develop type 2 diabetes.
However, latest evidence has identified that this is not the case for individuals without prediabetes.
- Vitamin D associated with good type 2 diabetes management
- Certain populations would benefit from more vitamin D than current recommendations, experts say
- Vitamin D associated with reduced risk of cancer mortality
A total of 2,495 adults took part in the five-year study and were randomly assigned into one of three groups: a placebo group, a 40 micrograms of vitamin D3 per day group or an 80 micrograms of vitamin D3 per day group.
Throughout the trial, 38 people in the placebo group, 31 in the group receiving 40 micrograms of vitamin D3 per day, and 36 in the group receiving 80 micrograms of vitamin D3 per day, all went on to develop type 2 diabetes.
“The effects of vitamin D on blood glucose and insulin levels, body mass index, and waist circumference were examined during the first two years of the study, but no differences were observed between the groups,” concluded the results.
Read the full study in the journal Diabetologia.
