Vitamin D Supplementation Protects Children from Type 1 Diabetes

Children given additional vitamin D were approximately 30% less likely to have Type 1 diabetes in later life vs. those not given the supplement, according to the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis reported in the March 2008 issue of the Archives of Disease in Childhood. The study looked at 4 case-control studies which showed a decreased risk for Type 1 diabetes in 1,429 cases with vitamin D supplementation vs. 5,026 controls.

Higher vitamin D doses might be more effective in decreasing risk for type 1 diabetes:

• In one study, risk of Type 1 diabetes decreased by 19% when cod liver oil use was 4 times per week or less and 26% when cod liver oil was given more than 5 times per week .
• In a cohort study, the risk for type 1 diabetes decreased 78% with regular use of recommended 2,000 IU a day of vitamin D dose vs. regular use of less than recommended vitamin D dose.
• Risk for Type 1 diabetes was lower if cod liver oil was started between 7 and 12 months of age vs. between birth and 6 months of age.

Reference:

Arch Dis Child. Published online March 13, 2008.

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