Loyola University’s Nursing School located in Chicago, IL plans to conduct a large trial to evaluate vitamin D’s effect on depression and insulin resistance in women with diabetes. Sue Penckofer, Ph.D., RN, a professor at the school. According to Dr. Penckofer, “Vitamin D deficiency continues to be a problem despite the nutrient’s widely reported health benefits. “Chicago winters compound this issue when more people spend time away from sunlight, which is a natural source of vitamin D.”
Diabetics with increased resistance to insulin, also experience depression, more frequently and occurs more often in women compared to men. Higher vitamin D levels have been associated with a reduction of depression, diabetes and other serious chronic disorders.
Vitamin D deficiency is much more common and far more widespread than previously recognized. It accounts for the difference in the distribution of certain chronic diseases such as prostate cancer and multiple sclerosis, based on location. For example, these diseases are more prominent in northern locations compared to warmer, tropical ones.
The study will give 50,000 international units of vitamin D every week for 6 months to 80 women with type 2 diabetes, from 18 to 70 with signs of depression. They will also measure their vitamin D levels and other factors three times during the study.
