Medical experts now claim that taking vitamin D supplements during early childhood may dramatically cut the odds of developing Type 1 diabetes later in life. Researches found that children given additional vitamin D were up to 80% less likely to develop Type 1 diabetes than those not given the supplement.
They also found that the higher and more regular the dose, the lower the likelihood of developing the condition. These findings came from the analysis of five studies in various countries.
One of the studies that was looked at was a Finnish sudy that followed more than 12,000 children born in 1966 in Finland. Their study showed that those who took any amount of vitamin D had a lower rate of diabetes than those who did, and those who took recommended amounts of vitamin D were at an 80% reduced risk of developing it.
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease in which the immune system destroys its own cells. It develops when insulin-secreting cells in the pancreas are destroyed.
Researchers believe that vitamin D, which is believed to be an immuno-suppressant agent, may prevent an overly aggressive response from the immune system. Nutrition experts recommend 8.5 microgrammes a day, and 7 microgrammes a day for those age 7 months to three years.
Tags: 7 months, aggressive response, auto immune disease, cells, early childhood, Finland, immune system nutrition, insulin, medical experts, nutrition experts, odds, pancreas, risk, sudy, supplements, type 1 diabetes, vitamin d