Vitamin D supplementation may reduce blood sugar and metabolic syndrome risk in postmenopausal women

Vitamin D supplementation may reduce blood sugar and metabolic syndrome risk in postmenopausal women.

Supplementation with 1000 IU vitamin D may reduce blood sugar and other metabolic syndromes in postmenopausal women revealed a study published in the Journal Climacteric.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with impaired glucose homeostasis. Association of vitamin D supplementation with various health benefits is of particular interest in nutritional research. Prior studies demonstrated that higher serum vitamin D levels were associated with a 55% reduction in the blood sugar, a 51% decreased risk of the metabolic syndrome and a 33% lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of isolated vitamin D (VD) supplementation on the metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk profile in postmenopausal women.

In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 160 postmenopausal women aged 50-65 years were randomized into two groups: VD group, supplementation with 1000 IU vitamin D₃/day; or placebo group. The intervention time was 9 months, and the women were assessed at baseline and endpoint. Clinical and anthropometric data were collected. Biochemical parameters, including total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, glucose, and insulin, were measured. The plasma concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Key Findings

• After 9 months, there was a significant increase in the 25(OH)D levels for the VD group, and a decrease in the placebo group.


• In the Vitamin D group, a significant reduction was observed in triglycerides, insulin, and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance.


• In the placebo group, there was an increase in blood sugar.


• Analysis of the risk-adjusted for age, time since menopause, and body mass index showed that women supplemented with VD had a lower risk of MetS, hypertriglyceridemia, and high blood sugar in the placebo group.

Summing up, the authors concluded that in postmenopausal women with VD deficiency, isolated supplementation with 1000 IU vitamin D₃ for 9 months was associated with a reduction in the Metabolic syndrome risk profile. Women undergoing Vitamin D supplementation had a lower risk of Metabolic syndrome, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperglycemia.

For reference, click on the link

DOI: 10.1080/13697137.2019.1611761