title: Vitamin D and diabetes mellitus: Causal or casual association?
abstract: The incidence of both type 2 and type 1 diabetes mellitus has been increasing worldwide. Vitamin D deficiency, or the awareness of its prevalence, has also been increasing. Vitamin D may have a role in the pathogenic mechanisms predisposing to type 2 diabetes by modulating insulin resistance and/or pancreatic β-cell function. Vitamin D status or elements involved in its activation or transport may also be involved in the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus through immunomodulatory role . Based on these observations a potential association between vitamin D and diabetes has been hypothesized. In this review we discuss up to date evidence linking vitamin D with the development of diabetes. Moreover, the role of vitamin D supplementation in the prevention of both types of diabetes is analysed together with its role in improving glycemic control in diabetic patients. We also address the potential role of vitamin D deficiency in the development of macro- and microvascular complications in diabetes. Finally, we provide recommendation for Vitamin D therapy in diabetes in view of current evidence and highlight areas for potential future research in this area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism - Diabetes Center, 1st Clinic of Internal Medicine, AHEPA University Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grammatiki
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism - Diabetes Center, 1st Clinic of Internal Medicine, AHEPA University Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rapti
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism - Diabetes Center, 1st Clinic of Internal Medicine, AHEPA University Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karras
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research, Leeds Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds Ringgold Standard Institution, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ajjan
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism - Diabetes Center, 1st Clinic of Internal Medicine, AHEPA University Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. kalmanthou@yahoo.gr.|Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece. kalmanthou@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Kalliopi
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2376-740X
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kotsa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000502:physiology*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: 25-hydroxyvitamin D; Diabetes complications; Diabetes mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Vitamin D