Extra Vitamin D 'may cut childhood diabetes risk'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

We get Vitamin D from sunshine and foods such as oily fish

Giving children extra vitamin D may cut their risk of developing Type 1 diabetes by almost a third, researchers said today.

Around 250,000 people in the UK have Type 1 diabetes, which usually develops in childhood or adolescence and is unconnected to lifestyle factors such as obesity.

Of these people, at least 20,000 are currently school age.

Today, a review of five studies, published online in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, found children given vitamin D supplements were 29 per cent less likely to develop the disease than those not given any.

The higher and the more regular the dose, the lower was the likelihood of developing the disease, it found.

However, it was unclear from the studies how old many of the children were or what the exact dose was.

The authors said levels of vitamin D and sunlight, from which the body manufactures the vitamin, have been implicated in the risks of developing other autoimmune disorders, including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

They warned that the incidence of Type 1 diabetes is expected to rise worldwide, by 40 per cent in 2010 based on 2000 figures.

They added: "It is commonest in people of European descent and affects two million people in Europe and North America.

"There is a marked geographic variation in incidence, with a child in Finland being about 400 times more likely than a child in Venezuela to acquire the disease.

Dr Victoria King, research manager of the charity, Diabetes UK, said: "This study suggests that taking vitamin D in childhood has the potential to prevent the development of Type 1 diabetes.

"However, much more research, in particular controlled trials which compares the results when one group of people are given vitamin D supplements and one group is not, are needed before we can confirm a concrete association between vitamin D and Type 1 diabetes."

The research was carried out by experts from the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust and Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals.