title: Focus on vitamin D, inflammation and type 2 diabetes.
abstract: The initial observations linking vitamin D to type 2 diabetes in humans came from studies showing that both healthy and diabetic subjects had a seasonal variation of glycemic control. Currently, there is evidence supporting that vitamin D status is important to regulate some pathways related to type 2 diabetes development. Since the activation of inflammatory pathways interferes with normal metabolism and disrupts proper insulin signaling, it is hypothesized that vitamin D could influence glucose homeostasis by modulating inflammatory response. Human studies investigating the impact of vitamin D supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers of subjects with or at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes are scarce and have generated conflicting results. Based on available clinical and epidemiological data, the positive effects of vitamin D seem to be primarily related to its action on insulin secretion and sensitivity and secondary to its action on inflammation. Future studies specifically designed to investigate the role of vitamin D on type 2 diabetes using inflammation as the main outcome are urgently needed in order to provide a more robust link between vitamin D, inflammation and type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Center for Nutrition Practice and Research, Department of Education, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, SP 18618-970, Brazil. cchagas@ibb.unesp.br
authors.forename: Carlos Eduardo Andrade
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Chagas
authors.forename: Maria Carolina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: Lígia Araújo
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.forename: Marcelo Macedo
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rogero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007328:Insulin; D014807:Vitamin D