Calcium and Vitamin D intake may reduce the risk of Diabetes Type 2

Calcium and Vitamin D may reduce the risk of Diabetes Type 2

Using C-peptide as a measure of insulin secretion, this study of healthy men and women found:

1. High calcium intake in women resulted in up to 20% lower insulin secretion

2. Vitamin D 25 Hydroxy concentration in the upper quartile in men resulted in 20% lower insulin production compared with the lowest quartile.

3. If hypertension was present, then increased calcium intake in both sexes resulted in lower insulin secretion by 17% in men, and 20% in women.

4. The highest tertile of calcium intake and Vitamin D 25 OH had 35% lower insulin secretion in men, and 12 % lower insulin secretion in women.

Wu T, Willett WC, Giovannucci E. Plasma C-peptide is inversely associated with calcium intake in women and with plasma 25-hydroxy vitamin D in men. J Nutr. 2009 Mar;139(3):547-54.

The results indicate Vitamin D and Calcium may lower insulin resistance or improve insulin sensitivity, and thus reduce the need for insulin production to maintain blood sugar control.