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A NIH funded clinical trial is currently underway at Loyola University to determine if vitamin D supplementation may help women with type 2 diabetes feel better and, in turn, take better care of their diabetes.

Diabetes affects 1 in 10 persons in the United States and is projected to increase to one in four persons by 2050. Women with type 2 diabetes have worse glycemic control and diabetes self-care behaviors than men with type 2 diabetes. One reason for these outcomes is the influence of mood. Low mood has been correlated with poor self-care behaviors and, consequently, worse glycemic control in women with type 2 diabetes.

Multiple vitamin D receptors have been discovered in regions of the brain that affect mood, suggesting that low levels of vitamin D may be correlated with symptoms of low mood. Several studies have reported that vitamin D supplementation can reduce symptoms of associated with negative moods (such as depression); however, further research and randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm this evidence.

The Sunshine 2 Study is a randomized trial that aims to determine the efficacy of vitamin D₃ supplementation on mood symptoms, self-management of diabetes, and blood pressure in women with type 2 diabetes who have symptoms of low mood. The sunshine 2 study plans to enroll 150 participants over the course of the next 3.5 years. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either 50,000 IU or 5,000 IU of vitamin D3 supplementation weekly for 6 months. The sunshine 2 study is expected to define the role of vitamin D supplementation in modifying self-care behaviors of women with type 2 diabetes.

NIH grant number:R01NR013906