Daily consumption of a vitamin D-fortified yogurt lowered blood glucose levels and inflammation markers in patients with type 2 diabetes, shows a Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences study. Inflammation both increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and increases the risk of complications from heart disease and stroke. Vitamin D, essential for bone health, also may have anti-inflammatory properties, according to the study of 90 patients with type 2 diabetes. In the double-blind study, patients were randomly assigned to receive either a plain yogurt drink called doogh, one fortified with vitamin D, or one fortified with vitamin D and calcium. Participants’ vitamin D blood levels, insulin resistance, inflammation markers, fibrinogen, and adiponectin were measured before and after the 12-week study. “Our study showed for the first time that adiponectin, a substance secreted by fat tissue that has an anti-inflammatory effect, increased when calcium and vitamin D-fortified doogh was consumed,” says lead author Tirang Neyestani. “Our findings may offer interesting therapeutic options for diabetic patients.” Participants receiving the doogh with vitamin D also demonstrated lowered blood glucose levels and lowered C-reactive protein levels, an inflammation marker.
