Vitamin D supplements reduce the risk of Type 1 diabetes

Researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Centre in India have reported that three-quarters of children with type 1 diabetes were found to have insufficient levels of vitamin D . They concluded in a recent study, that giving children vitamin D supplements at infancy may reduce their risk of developing the disease .
The research was conducted on a range of suffers from those recently diagnosed with the disease, to those with long established diabetes. The study found that 15 percent of the participants were completely vitamin D deficient with a further 61 percent having insufficient levels.
The researchers suggested possible reasons for inadequate supplies of vitamin D could be as a result of reduced sun exposure, low amounts of milk intake which is instead substituted by sugar-free drinks.
Previous research has reported links between diabetes and reductions in bone density and strength. Severe vitamin D deficiency in infants and children has also been associated with bone deformation, with insufficient levels of the vitamin preventing bones reaching their potential mass accompanied by an increased risk of fracture later in life. As a result of these collaborated effects a vitamin D deficiency is seen as an increased yet avoidable risk for minors with diabetes.