title: Vitamin D and diabetes.
abstract: Vitamin D deficiency predisposes individuals to type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and receptors for its activated form-1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-have been identified in both beta cells and immune cells. Vitamin D deficiency has been shown to impair insulin synthesis and secretion in humans and in animal models of diabetes, suggesting a role in the development of type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, epidemiological studies suggest a link between vitamin D deficiency in early life and the later onset of type 1 diabetes. In some populations, type 1 diabetes is associated with certain polymorphisms within the vitamin D receptor gene. In studies in nonobese diabetic mice, pharmacological doses of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, or its structural analogues, have been shown to delay the onset of diabetes, mainly through immune modulation. Vitamin D deficiency may, therefore, be involved in the pathogenesis of both forms of diabetes, and a better understanding of the mechanisms involved could lead to the development of preventive strategies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Endocrinology (LEGENDO), Catholic University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium. chantal.mathieu@med.kuleuven.be
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mathieu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gysemans
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giulietti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bouillon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D008954:Models, Biological; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000502:physiology*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D002117:Calcitriol