Type II diabetes affects more than 30 million individuals and the youth account for 20% to 50% of new onset diabetes cases.

Previous research has demonstrated low levels of vitamin D are associated with an increased risk of type II diabetes. Vitamin D has been shown to play a role in reducing inflammation and inhibiting β-cell destruction. 

According to a new study two weeks ago in Nutrients, researchers investigated the effect of high-dose vitamin D supplementation on microcirculation, inflammatory markers, and peripheral neuropathy symptoms in patients with type II diabetes.

This study included 67 patients with type II diabetes and peripheral neuropathy. The research team investigated the effect of different doses of vitamin D supplementation on microcirculation, neuropathy symptoms, and inflammatory markers in patients with type II diabetes. Each patient was given either 5,000 IU or 40,000 IU once a week over a 24-week period. Neuropathy assessment included neuropathic symptomatic score (NSS), neuropathic disability score (NDS), and visual analogue scale (VAS). Cutaneous microcirculation (MC) was assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). Laboratory assessment included total cholesterol, C-reactive protein, HA1c, vitamin D 25-OH, parathyroid hormone (PTH), IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and TNFα. These were assessed at baseline and after treatment.

A vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency was identified in 78% of the patients. As a result, vitamin D supplementation at 40,000 IU once a week demonstrated a significant decrease in neuropathy severity as well as an improvement of cutaneous microcirculation. In addition, there was a reduction in IL-6 levels and an increase in IL-10 levels. No changes were shown in patients that received vitamin D supplementation at 5,000 IU once a week.

This study demonstrated that high-dose vitamin D supplementation can reduce inflammation as well as improve microcirculation and neuropathy symptoms in patients with type II diabetes.

It is important to take vitamin K along with vitamin D to prevent against arterial calcification. It is also essential to maintain adequate levels of all the fat soluble vitamins as more and more research demonstrates their intricate interrelationships with other nutrients.

All chronic conditions are multifactorial and vitamin D is many times part of the picture. Other nutrients that can support neuropathy symptoms include benfotiamine, folate, cobalamin, pyridoxal-5-phosphate, acetyl-l-carnitine, and lipoic acid.

By Michael Jurgelewicz, DC, DACBN, DCBCN, CNS

Source: Karonova T, Stepanova A, et al. High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation Improves

Microcirculation and Reduces Inflammation in Diabetic Neuropathy Patients. Nutrients. 20 August 2020, 12(9), 2518.

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