Senior author Anastassios G. Pittas, MD, chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Tufts Medical Center and professor at Tufts University School of Medicine, and Gordon Huggins, MD, director of the Molecular Cardiology Research Institute (MCRI) and associate professor at Tufts University School of Medicine, collaborated with lead author Bess Dawson-Hughes, MD, of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, to analyze data from the landmark Vitamin D and Type 2 Diabetes (D2d) clinical trial. The national study showed a modest overall reduction in diabetes risk with vitamin D supplementation. This new analysis sought to understand which individuals may benefit more than others.
Investigators examined common variations in the vitamin D receptor gene, which helps the body respond to vitamin D. They found that participants with the AC or CC variants of the ApaI polymorphism, representing about 70% of those studied, had a 19% lower risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes when taking 4,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily compared with placebo. Participants with the AA variant did not experience the same benefit.
"These findings help explain why vitamin D may reduce diabetes risk for some people but not others, They also highlight the promise of more personalized approaches to preventing chronic disease."
Anastassios G. Pittas, MD
The findings reflect the growing potential of precision medicine, which uses genetic and biological information to better match prevention strategies and treatments to individual patients. For people with prediabetes, that could one day include genetic screening to identify who is most likely to benefit from vitamin D supplementation.
Prediabetes affects millions of Americans and significantly increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and other serious health conditions. Researchers say larger studies are needed to confirm the results before genetic testing or targeted vitamin D supplementation becomes part of routine care.
At Tufts Medicine, our Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Research is helping drive the next generation of discoveries in diabetes prevention, treatment and personalized care.
