This Common Vitamin May Help Stop Prediabetes From Turning Into Diabetes

Key Points:

• New research published in JAMA Network Open suggests that vitamin D supplementation may reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 19% in adults with prediabetes who carry specific variations in the vitamin D receptor gene.
• The study analyzed data from over 2,000 U.S. adults in the D2d trial, finding that those with the AC or CC variations of the ApaI vitamin D receptor gene benefited from high-dose vitamin D, while those with the AA variation did not.
• These findings point toward the potential for personalized diabetes prevention strategies based on genetic testing, as vitamin D is an affordable and accessible supplement that could delay or prevent diabetes progression in certain individuals.
• Researchers caution against self-prescribing high doses of vitamin D due to possible risks such as increased falls and fractures, emphasizing the need for medical guidance and further studies to identify who might safely benefit.
• The study highlights the importance of genetic screening in tailoring preventive treatments for the approximately 115 million Americans living with prediabetes, potentially improving outcomes through targeted vitamin D supplementation.