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Nutrition, Vitamins & Supplements for Seniors
Calcium, Vitamin D, Magnesium in Milk Reduce Risk of
Type 2 Diabetes
15% lower risk among individuals with the highest
dairy intake
 July 10, 2007 Most Americans, including senior
citizens, fail to get the calcium and vitamin D they need, but this
shortfall could be affecting more than their bones. It may, at least in
part, be one reason behind the epidemic of type 2 diabetes, suggests new
research conducted at Tufts University.
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Nutrition, Vitamins & Supplements |
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Drinking more milk a leading source of calcium
and vitamin D in the American diet could help decrease the risk of
type 2 diabetes by nearly 15 percent, according to the new meta-analysis
and review published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology &
Metabolism.
In the thorough analysis of previously published
studies, the researchers found chronically low levels of vitamin D were
linked to as high as 46 percent greater risk of type 2 diabetes.
Yet, boosting vitamin D alone would likely have
little effect in healthy adults. Instead, the researchers suggested that
a combination of vitamin D and calcium, like that found in milk, would
have the greatest potential to help prevent diabetes, especially among
those at highest risk for the disease.
Examining the intake of milk and milk products
specifically, the researchers found there was nearly a 15 percent lower
risk for type 2 diabetes among individuals with the highest dairy intake
(3-5 servings per day) compared to those getting less than 1 ½ servings
each day.
Most of the studies assessed were observational and
the limited number of intervention trials makes definitive conclusions
difficult, yet the Tufts researchers suggest calcium and vitamin D may
affect the bodys ability to produce or utilize insulin, the hormone the
body makes to process sugar that is impaired in those with diabetes and
pre-diabetes.
Beside calcium and vitamin D, milk is the primary
beverage source of magnesium, which a second meta-analysis found may
also reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. The analysis concludes that for
every 100 milligram increase in magnesium up to the recommended dietary
intake, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes decreased by 15 percent.
Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance syndrome (or
pre-diabetes) affect a staggering 75 million Americans and death rates
from diabetes have increased nearly 45 percent over the past 20 years,
elevating the importance of finding new ways to treat and prevent this
deadly disease.
Milk is a primary source of calcium and vitamin D
in the American diet. In fact, government reports indicate that more
than 70 percent of the calcium in our nations food supply comes from
milk and milk products. Additionally, milk is one of the few food
sources of vitamin D, which is fast emerging as a super nutrient.
The recommended three servings of lowfat or
fat-free milk provides 900 mg of calcium, 300 IU of vitamin D and 80 mg
of magnesium daily.
Information sources:
Pittas AG, Lau J, Hu FB, Dawson-Hughes B. REVIEW:
The role of vitamin D and calcium in type 2 diabetes. A systematic
review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology &
Metabolism. 2007;92:2017-2029.
Larsson SC, Wolk A. Magnesium intake and risk of
type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis. Journal of Internal Medicine. 2007.
doi: 10.1111; epub ahead of print.
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