THURSDAY, June 5 (HealthDay News) -- Adequate sun exposure and
vitamin D levels may play an important role in helping to prevent
type 1 diabetes in children, a new study suggests.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, analyzed
type 1 diabetes incidence rates and found that populations living
at or near the equator -- where there is abundant sunshine -- have
lower rates of the disease than populations at higher latitudes,
where there is less sunlight.
Sunlight exposure causes the skin to produce vitamin D, which is
also available through food and supplements.
"This is the first study, to our knowledge, to show that higher
serum levels of vitamin D are associated with reduced incidence
rates of type 1 diabetes worldwide," Cedric F. Garland, professor
of family and preventive medicine, said in a prepared
statement.
"The research suggests that childhood type 1 diabetes may be
preventable with a modest intake of vitamin D3 (1,000 IU/day),
ideally with five to 10 minutes of sunlight around noontime, when
good weather allows," Garland said.
"Infants less than a year old should not be given more than 400
IU per day without consulting a doctor. Hats and dark glasses are a
good idea to wear when in the sun at any age, and can be used if
the child will tolerate them," he advised.
The study was published online Thursday in the journal
Diabetologia.
Garland and his colleagues called for public health action to
reduce widespread vitamin D inadequacy in U.S. children.
"This study presents strong epidemiological evidence to suggest
that we may be able to prevent new cases of type 1 diabetes. By
preventing this disease, we would prevent its many devastating
consequences," Garland said.
Type 1 diabetes is the second most common chronic childhood
disease, behind asthma. About 1.5 million Americans have type 1
diabetes, and about 15,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. The
disease is the main cause of blindness in young and middle-aged
adults and is among the leading causes of kidney failure and
transplants in that age group, according to a news release about
the study.
More information
The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about
type 1 diabetes.
