Explore new approaches to prevent and treat type 2 diabetes with vitamin D and its active analogues——From somewhat disappointing clinical trials results to promising basic researches

Abstract

The prevalence of diabetes is increasing rapidly which becomes a serious economic burden to society. The effects of vitamin D beyond bone are increasingly recognized. Circulating level of vitamin D is associated with the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes in cross-sectional human studies. However, as to the therapeutic efficacy of vitamin D supplementation on the prevention of diabetes, the results derived from randomized controlled clinical trials were disappointing, probably due to variations in the vitamin D receptor genotypes, the dosages and courses of vitamin D treatments. However, two recent basic studies found that central administration of active vitamin D can improve glucose metabolism in diet induced obesity rats; and the combining use of active vitamin D analogue and BRD9 inhibitor rendered the chromatin of vitamin D response elements more accessible, thus more efficiently exerted its anti-inflammatory efficacy and protected islet β cell function in obese and diabetic mice models. Thus it is paramount important to explore some new approaches to prevent and treat diabetes with vitamin D and its active analogues. (Chin J Endocrinol Metab, 2018, 34: 992-996) Key words: Vitamin D; Vitamin D receptor; Diabetes mellitus, type 2