Older Adults With More Vitamin D Have Less Diabetes
Graded Preliminary — a one-time snapshot of 1,324 older adults shows a link but cannot tell whether vitamin D affects blood sugar or the other way round.
- Design
- Cross-sectional study
- Participants
- 1,324
- Duration
- —
- Funding
- —
Older adults with higher vitamin D levels in their blood less often had diabetes or prediabetes.
In people aged 60 and older, vitamin D levels were tied to blood sugar. Those with more vitamin D in their blood were less likely to fall into a worse diabetes category. This held even after many other influences were taken into account.
The researchers examined 1,324 older adults at a single point in time. Their average age was just under 70, and slightly more than half were women. Trained interviewers asked about exercise and smoking. The team measured weight, waist size and blood pressure, plus fasting blood sugar and vitamin D. About one in four had too little vitamin D. Around 29 percent had diabetes, and another 23 percent had prediabetes, an early stage of it.
The authors say the results support awareness programs about vitamin D for older adults. But the study cannot show that vitamin D changes blood sugar. All values come from one moment, so it is unclear which came first. No vitamin D supplement was tested.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.