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Low vitamin D levels connected to increased diabetes risk in those with HIV

Category: HIV

In addition to the range of health problems experienced by those with HIV, a new study has shown that those who have low levels of vitamin D may also be more likely to develop diabetes.

Vitamin D testing has become a hot topic in the HIV/AIDS community in recent years. The nutrient has been shown to boost immune health, which could be important for those with compromised immune function. However, the finding that it may also influence diabetes risk was less expected.

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School tested 1,405 HIV-positive patients. They found that 82 percent had either low or deficient levels of vitamin D. Those who had full-blown vitamin D deficiency were found to be 85 percent more likely to also have diabetes.

Given the concern over vitamin D testing in the HIV/AIDS community, the researchers wrote in their report that their findings underscore the need for further investigations into the role that the nutrient plays in the health of those with the sexually transmitted disease.