Scientists in Germany have accomplished a new study that indicates people with a good level of Vitamin D have lowered risk of Type 2 diabetes development. The research was conducted in collaboration with the German Diabetes Center at the University of Ulm in Dusseldorf and was published in the October, 2011 edition of the Diabetes Care journal. The study shows that people with good vitamin D status have a lowered risk of developing Type 2 diabetes; and inversely, those with too low of vitamin D levels in the blood have a more elevated risk. It is believed that the effect may be partially due to the anti-inflammatory effects that vitamin D offers.

The research was conducted in Germany because vitamin D deficiency is a common problem in that country due to the factors of modern lifestyle and the geography. In winter months, vitamin D levels are low due to lack of sunlight. The number of diagnosed cases of Type 2 diabetes in Germany is around 6 million people; with a potential of higher numbers with those that are undiagnosed.