TYPE 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is an autoimmune condition with long-term health and quality-of-life challenges. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the potential role of vitamin supplementation in the prevention and progression of T1D, particularly its association with islet autoimmunity (IA). A recent systematic review investigated the effect of vitamin supplementation on the development of IA, the progression of IA to T1D, and the overall risk of developing T1D. The review aimed to provide clarity on whether supplementation with vitamins such as vitamin D and B could influence the incidence and progression of the disease. The key finding from the review is that supplementation does not appear to have a significant impact on the development of IA or T1D.
The systematic review adhered to the PRISMA guidelines and involved a comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases to identify relevant studies. The review included all studies that assessed the odds and risks associated with vitamin supplementation, specifically looking at the outcomes of IA, T1D, and the progression from IA to T1D. A meta-analysis was conducted for primary analysis to pool results from the selected studies, allowing for more accurate conclusions about the potential effects of vitamin supplementation.
15 studies were included in the review, and the meta-analysis revealed that vitamin D supplementation did not significantly alter the odds of developing T1D (pooled odds ratio [OR] 0.55; 95% CI: 0.22–1.38) or IA (pooled OR 0.91; 95% CI: 0.67–1.25). The relative risk (RR) of developing T1D was almost significant (RR 0.66; 95% CI: 0.41–1.06), suggesting the need for further large-scale cohort studies to explore this association more comprehensively. Additionally, the review found no evidence to suggest that vitamin B supplementation influenced the risk of T1D or the progression of IA.
In conclusion, this systematic review found no significant benefit of vitamin supplementation in modifying the risk of developing IA, T1D, or the progression of IA to T1D. The results provide a foundation for future research, particularly in the area of nutritional immunology, to explore other potential interventions that might have a more substantial impact on T1D prevention and progression. The study’s limitations include the relatively small sample size of some included studies and the lack of robust, long-term cohort data to make definitive conclusions. These factors suggest that more extensive research is necessary to fully understand the relationship between vitamin supplementation and T1D.
Reference
Low CE et al. Vitamin supplementation and its effect on incident type 1 diabetes mellitus and islet autoimmunity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Immunol. 2025;DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1505324.
