A new trial reported in the British Journal of Nutrition suggests that taking vitamin D supplements may help improve insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity. The study led by P.R. von Hurst and colleagues of Massey University in Auckland Australia found that in a group of women increasing the average serum level of vitamin D from 21 to 75 nmol/L (from 8.4 ng/ml to 30 ng/ml) drastically improved insulin sensitivity and reduced insulin resistance. For the study, 42 subjects were given 4000 IU of vitamin D per day while 39 subjects received a placebo as controls. The randomized, controlled, double-blind trial lasted six months. They found that improvement of insulin resistance was maximized when serum vitamin D levels were >/= 32 ng/ml. Supplementation with vitamin D did not affect insulin secretion.
On a another note about vitamin D, Subway (the world’s largest food chain in terms of restaurant units) announced recently that they will begin adding about 100 IU of vitamin D to the bread they use to make their subs. Although 100 IU is a menial amount of vitamin D, every little bit helps. And with Subway’s large and global influence, they might even help spread a little awareness.
Subway’s ‘Healthy’ New Bread Will Include Vitamin D, Calcium
In good health,
Lucinda
