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Vitamin D as a potential modifier of diabetes risk

Nature Clinical Practice Endocrinology & Metabolism volume 4, pages 182–183 (2008)Cite this article

Diabetes mellitus is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, with more than a million new cases diagnosed each year in the US alone. In addition to adequate management of prevalent disease and its complications, steps are necessary to curb the alarming incidence rate of diabetes mellitus. Currently there are no identifiable ways to prevent development of type 1 diabetes mellitus. By contrast, treatment of obesity, a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus, is the most successful means to delay development of this disease; however, weight loss is difficult to achieve and maintain long term. Identification of easily modifiable risk factors is, therefore, urgently needed for primary prevention of both types of diabetes mellitus. On the basis of evidence from animal and human studies, vitamin D has now emerged as a potential modifier of diabetes risk.1 In this Viewpoint, we review the evidence for the role of vitamin D in diabetes mellitus and outline the proposed mechanisms of action.

Vitamin D is derived from cutaneous synthesis of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) from its precursor 7-dehydrocholesterol under ultraviolet-exposure and by intake from the diet and/or supplements. Whether endogenously synthesized or ingested, vitamin D is transported to the liver where it is converted to 25-hydroxyvitamin D, its major circulating form. Under the influence of parathyroid hormone, 25-hydroxyvitamin D is converted in the kidney by the enzyme 1-α-hydroxylase to 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D, the active circulating form of vitamin D. The effects of 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D are exerted via its binding to the vitamin D receptor, a member of the nuclear-receptor superfamily of ligand-activated transcription factors.

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Acknowledgements

The authors' work is supported by NIH research grants K23 DK61506, R21 DK78867 and R01 DK76092 (awarded to AG Pittas).

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  1. SV Peechakara is a Resident in Internal Medicine at St Elizabeth's Medical Center and AG Pittas is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.,

    Seenia V Peechakara & Anastassios G Pittas

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  1. Seenia V Peechakara
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  2. Anastassios G Pittas
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Correspondence to Anastassios G Pittas.

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Peechakara, S., Pittas, A. Vitamin D as a potential modifier of diabetes risk. Nat Rev Endocrinol 4, 182–183 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpendmet0762

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