In a recent systematic review and meta-analysis published in the journal Nutrients , researchers from Italy updated a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine whether low serum vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D or 25OHD) levels can predict the onset of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in older adults. Despite adjusting for several confounders, they found that low 25OHD levels were associated with an increased risk of developing T2D in older adults. Vitamin D and Risk of Incident Type 2 Diabetes in Older Adults: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis .
Image Credit: Jane Vershinin / Shutterstock According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Diabetes Atlas, the worldwide prevalence of diabetes in individuals aged 20–79 was 536.6 million people in 2021 and is projected to rise to 783.2 million by 2045.
Diabetes prevalence is highest among older adults, particularly those aged 75–79, leading to a substantial increase in health expenditures in the near future. Vitamin D deficiency, common in older adults, is associated with an increased risk of T2D, potentially due to its role in pancreatic insulin secretion, metabolic syndrome, inflammation, and genetic factors. While observational studies and meta-analyses indicate an inverse relationship between 25OHD levels and diabetes risk, intervention studies yield mixed results.
Some meta-analyses show that vitamin D supplementation reduces diabetes risk, especially in non-obese individuals. However, these studies primarily.
