Vitamin D Deficiency Raises Risk of Metabolic Syndrome
VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY RAISES RISK OF METABOLIC SYNDROME
A study has found that those with low vitamin D levels are 70 percent more likely to have metabolic syndrome.
Also, those with low levels of vitamin D were 2.63 times as likely to be obese in the abdomen; 26 percent more likely to have low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol; 22 percent more likely to have high blood glucose (blood sugar) levels; 46 percent more likely to have high or abnormal blood triglycerides; and 43 percent more likely to have high or abnormal blood pressure readings.
The results of this research on Asian volunteers in Kuala Lumpur confirm similar findings regarding vitamin D deficiencies among non-Asian Westerners.
This study was published in a supplement of the August 2011 issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health and is available now online at http://bit.ly/oGmSXa with subscription or access fee.
Low Vitamin D in Children & Risk for Diabetes
Children with low serum vitamin D levels are at risk for diabetes and increasing insulin resistance, according to a new study published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood journal.
Researchers from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) looked at the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) and fasting glucose, insulin and insulin sensitivity in obese and non-obese children. The cross-sectional design involved 85 kids age four to 18 years from the local community and sleep center. Researchers measured the fasting blood glucose, insulin and 25-OH-D levels of these children, and calculated insulin resistance using homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). In addition, they measured body-mass index (BMI-z) standard deviation and determined pubertal stage of the children.
Median vitamin D levels were 52 nmol/l, with 26 percent of subjects showing sufficient D levels (higher than 70 nmol/l), 27 percent having intermediate levels (50 to 75 nmol/l) and 47 percent having insufficient (25 to 50 nmol/l) or “frankly deficient” 25-OH-D levels (under 25 nmol/l). In the multivariate model used to determine the association of vitamin D levels with HOMA, children older in age, with higher BMI-z and of African-American race were all negatively associated with 25-OH-D levels—summertime saw slight increases in D levels among these children. Overall, lower D levels were associated with higher fasting blood glucose, insulin and HOMA after adjusting for puberty and BMI-z.
Researchers concluded low 25-OH-D levels are common in children, putting them at risk for diabetes and increasing insulin resistance.
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Low Vitamin D in Pregnancy Affects Children’s Insulin Resistance
LOW VITAMIN D IN PREGNANCY AFFECTS CHILDREN’S INSULIN RESISTANCE
A study found that low blood levels of vitamin D during pregnancy may result in less muscle mass and higher insulin resistance in children. (An effect on musculoskeletal development had long been suspected but metabolic effect was not known.)
Researchers measured vitamin D status at the 28-32 week period of pregnancy. Later, they examined various blood, insulin and strength factors in the children born to these mothers at the ages of five and 9.5 years. At both ages measured, children born to mothers who had shown a distinct vitamin D deficiency had smaller arm-muscle area. Also, at 9.5 years of age, children of D-deficient mothers showed higher fasting insulin resistance. (In insulin-resistant individuals, the hormone insulin becomes less effective at lowering blood sugars and raises the risk of diabetes and early heart disease.)
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition released this study on January 12, 2011, although it will not be published until a future issue. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/eEYzbx.
Intensive Lifestyle Interventions & Obesity
LIFESTYLE INTERVENTIONS EFFECTIVE FOR OVERWEIGHT
An intensive intervention among obese and overweight persons was proven effective in cutting weight and improving cardiometabolic risks. Overweight is linked to greater risks of diabetes and high blood pressure. Obese and overweight individuals were divided into two groups. One group walked briskly 60 minutes a day, five days a week for a year; the other entered the same program at the six-month mark. Both groups spent the entire year on a weight-loss diet, involving liquid and prepackaged meal replacements. After six months, the exercise-and-diet group had lost a substantial 24 pounds while the diet-only group lost a still substantial 18 pounds.
At year-end, the weight loss was similar for each group: 27 and 22 pounds.
Both groups showed significant improvement in cardiometabolic factors: waist circumference, abdominal fat, liver fat, blood pressure, and insulin resistance.
Researchers concluded intensive intervention dramatically reduces overweight risks, such as diabetes and heart disease. The study was released October 9 in San Diego at the Obesity Society’s 28th Annual Scientific Meeting. It will be published in the October 27, 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association and is available online now at http://bit.ly/bSgGph without charge.
Proof that Fish Oils Fight Inflammation & Diabetes
Finally, a study has identified the mechanism by which omega-3 fatty acids appear to effectively fight chronic inflammation, insulin resistance and diabetes. The study found that there is a key receptor in obese body fat and that omega-3 oils – specifically docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) – activate this receptor, which results in broad anti-inflammatory effects and improved systemic insulin sensitivity. (There is a strong connection between obesity and diabetes.)
The effect of fish oil was powerful, according to the researchers, and, “The omega-3 fatty acids switch on the receptor, killing the inflammatory response.” The study team warned that more study is required to determine how much fish oil constitutes a safe and effective dose.
Researchers suggested that the study could eventually lead to a natural dietary remedy for the more than 23 million Americans who suffer from diabetes. This study was published in the Friday, September 3, 2010 issue of the journal, Cell. The full-text version is now available online without fee at http://bit.ly/9TQ09d.
