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Low Vitamin D Associated with Increased Risk of Infection Among People with Diabetes
People who had low levels of serum vitamin D had a greater risk of infections compared with those with higher levels, in a study that included nearly 20,000 men and women with type 2 diabetes.
People with diabetes have lower vitamin D levels than those without diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes also have a 47% increase in the risk of mortality caused by infections, compared with the general population.
Researchers Ji-Juan Zhang and colleagues found that people with diabetes who had serum vitamin D levels of less than 10 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) had a 44% greater risk of total infections compared with levels of 20 ng/mL to 30 ng/mL. Low vitamin D levels of less than 10 ng/mL were associated with a 47% higher risk of gastrointestinal infections, a 49% higher risk of pneumonia and a 41% higher risk of sepsis compared with levels of 20 ng/mL–30 ng/mL. Variations in vitamin D receptor genes were not significantly associated with serum vitamin D concentrations or with the relationship of vitamin D levels to incidence of infections.
The current investigation included 19,851 people with type 2 diabetes who enrolled in the UK Biobank from 2006 to 2010. Subjects selected for the study had available genetic data and information concerning serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. Hospital inpatient and death registers provided information concerning total infections for each participant as well as the incidence of common infections, including gastrointestinal infections, pneumonia and sepsis, during a median follow-up period of 13.2 years. Infections occurred in 24.7% of the group during follow-up.
“We found that lower serum 25(OH)D concentration (less than 20 ng/mL) was associated with higher risks of infections in patients with type 2 diabetes, regardless of genetic variants in vitamin D receptor,” Ji-Juan Zhang and colleagues wrote. “Our findings highlight the importance of maintaining adequate 25(OH)D concentrations in reducing the risk of infections in patients with type 2 diabetes.”
The findings were reported in the August 2024 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.1
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Apply What You’ve Learned: Infections
- An infection occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or yeast invade and multiply in the body. Infections can occur in one or more areas or organs, or in the blood, as occurs during septicemia (which can lead to sepsis).
- Infection depends upon the resistance of the host. Lowered resistance due to poor nutrition, stress, insufficient sleep, the presence of another illness, current or prior use of some disease treatments (such as chemotherapy and antibiotics), or aging can increase the risk of infection if a person is exposed to disease-causing microorganisms.
- Nutrients that help support a healthy immune system include vitamin C, vitamin D, whey protein, garlic and more.2-5 A healthy microbiome is also helpful in the prevention of some infections.6
- Zinc is known for its ability to shorten the duration of ongoing colds when used as a treatment.7,8 Zinc is commonly used in the form of lozenges during colds so that the mineral comes into direct contact with the mucosa of the throat.
References
- Zhang JJ et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 2024 Aug;120(2):398-406.
- Sorice A et al. Mini Rev Med Chem. 2014 May;14(5):444-52.
- Carr AC et al. Nutrients. 2017 Nov 3;9(11):1211.
- Ismailova A et al. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2022 Apr;23(2):265-277.
- Arreola R et al. J Immunol Res. 2015:2015:401630.
- Manos J. APMIS. 2022 Dec;130(12):690-705.
- Nault D et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024 May 9;5(5):CD014914.
- Hemilä H. Open Respir Med J. 2011:5:51-8.
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