Vitamin D plays a key role in the body, as it helps to maintain healthy bones, joints and teeth, as well as a well-functioning immune system. Getting enough vitamin D may also help reduce insulin resistance. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with bone pain and muscle weakness. The level of 25(OH) D in the blood is considered as the best indicator of vitamin D status. Several studies indicate a strong association between vitamin D levels and type2 diabetes. The most recent one is published in the journal Public Library of Science Medicine. Conducted by scientists from Oxford University (Oxford, UK) and their Chinese colleagues, this study tested the relevance of 25(OH) D for type 2 diabetes using genetically instrumented differences in plasma 25(OH) D concentrations.
For this research, the team took blood samples from 13,565 participants and 5,565 cases with diabetes. After centrifugation, plasma 25 (OH) D concentrations of EDTA plasma samples were measured using a Beckman Coulter Access 2 immunoassay system in these participants, of whom 3,014 participated in the genetic study. Both the observational and the genetic studies indicate that higher vitamin D status is associated with lower risk of diabetes.
Another study by U.S. and South Korean scientists also infers the same. The study team determined the minimum healthy vitamin D level to be 30 nanograms per milliliter. Those who meet this have only one-third of the risk of developing diabetes compared to those with vitamin D below this level. Also, those with levels of 50 ng/ml had only one-fifth of the risk.
To assess vitamin D sufficiency in human serum and plasma, 25(OH) Vitamin D assay is used in clinical chemistry analyzers. Diazyme is a leading manufacturer of this assay and lab professionals must make sure to purchase this assay from a reliable online lab equipment store.