Issue 149 Item 5 Lack of Vitamin D Increases Risk for Type 1 Diabetes

Vitamin D-deficiency in infancy and vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms may be risk factors for insulin-dependent Diabetes. The biologically active form of vitamin D, is a potent modulator of the immune system as well as a regulator of bone and mineral metabolism.

“1,25(OH)2D3 and its analogs significantly repress the development of insulitis and diabetes in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse, a model of human IDDM,” reported Julia B. Zella and Hector F. DeLuca at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

They continued, “1,25(OH)2D3 may modulate IDDM disease pathogenesis by repression of type I cytokines, inhibition of dendritic cell maturation, and upregulation of regulatory T cells. The function of vitamin D as a genetic and environmental determining factor for IDDM, the protective role of 1,25(OH)2D3 and its analogs in a mouse model of IDDM, and the possible mechanisms by which this protection occurs will be reviewed.”

Zella and DeLuca published the results of their study in the Journal of Cellular Biochemistry (Vitamin D and autoimmune diabetes. J Cell Biochem, 2003;88(2):216-222).