We have long discussed the various benefits of Vitamin D, and now there is another component that needs to be highlighted.

A study was just completed and published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition June 29, 2011, showing the benefits of Vitamin D in patients that are high risk for diabetes.

In the study, patients were administered 2000IU of Vitamin D over a 16 week period improved pancreas production of insulin in response to circulating glucose. The study showed a very positive effect on the use of Vitamin D for adults at high risk for diabetes. However, the study has some gaps that still need explained or further examined.

The patients enrolled in the study had a baseline Vitamin D level of of 24 ng/ml, and after 16 weeks, it only rose to 31 ng/ml with a dose of 2000IU daily. In layman’s terms, the dose of Vitamin D given to the patients was simply too low. These patients, in my opinion, should have been receiving 5000IU of Vitamin D per day. Furthermore, the time length of the study was too short. If they would have increase the dosage and examined the results over a longer period of time, the Vitamin D level would have been something closer to 40-50 ng/ml. Essentially, the results would have been more profound and dramatic.

Nonetheless, Len and I have spoken about the benefits of Vitamin D since 2004 and research continues to validate our own thoughts over the years. This is just one component of Vitamin D; we will be exploring the other benefits of Vitamin D in the future.