Vitamin D helps reduce type 2 diabetes pain and depression in women

A new study has revealed that vitamin D decreases pain in women with type 2 diabetes and depression.

Type 2 diabetes is associated with depression and pain, but few studies have looked at how pain may affect the treatment of depression in patients with type 2 diabetes and no studies have evaluated the role of vitamin D supplementation on this association.

Researchers in this study tested the efficacy of weekly vitamin D2 supplementation for six months on depression in women with type 2 diabetes. Depression significantly improved following supplementation.

In addition, 61 % of patients reported shooting or burning pain in their legs and feet (neuropathic pain) and 74 % reported numbness and tingling in their hands, fingers, and legs (sensory pain) at the beginning of the study. Researchers found a significant decrease in neuropathic and sensory pain at three and six months following vitamin D2 supplementation.

“Pain is a common and often serious problem for women with type 2 diabetes and depression,” Todd Doyle, lead author and fellow, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, said. “While further research is needed, D2 supplementation is a promising treatment for both pain and depression in type 2 diabetes.