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CC BY 4.0 · Journal of Health and Allied Sciences NU
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1778717
Brief Report

Therapeutic Fasting and Vitamin D Levels: A New Dimension in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Prevention and Management—A Brief Report

Pradeep M.K. Nair
1   Department of Research, Sant Hirdaram Medical College of Naturopathy & Yogic Sciences for Women, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
,
Karishma Silwal
2   Department of Naturopathy, Sant Hirdaram Yoga & Nature Cure Hospital, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
,
Prakash Babu Kodali
3   Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, Kerala, India
,
Gulab Rai Tewani
2   Department of Naturopathy, Sant Hirdaram Yoga & Nature Cure Hospital, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
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Abstract

Introduction Studies link hypovitaminosis D to be significantly associated with poor glycemic control, heightened inflammation, and risk of complications. Studies recommend fasting or calorie restriction as a useful measure to achieve diabetic reversal. The present study explores if therapeutic fasting is associated with improvement in the vitamin D levels and other clinical outcomes related to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods This observational study included 26 T2DM patients exposed to a 10-day medically supervised fasting (≈ 500–1000 Kcal/day) in a complementary medicine facility. Levels of vitamin D, B12, fasting blood sugar (FBS), blood pressure, anthropometric measures, World Health Organization Quality of Life, disease perception (Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire), and self-reported vitality were measured at the baseline and the 10th day.

Results Significant improvement in the levels of vitamin D (p = 0.000), B12 (p = 0.03), and reduction in FBS levels (p = 0.001), blood pressure, body mass index, waist and hip circumference (p ≤ 0.05), and improvement in quality of life, vitality, and disease perception (p < 0.001) were observed by the end of 10th day. FBS shared a negative correlation with vitamin D levels (males r = –0.1, females r = –0.48).

Conclusion The present findings provide insights into the probable mechanisms by which therapeutic fasting modulates the progression of T2DM. Nevertheless, large-scale randomized controlled trials are warranted to validate the present findings.

Keywords

vitamin D deficiency - type 2 diabetes mellitus - vitamin B12 - insulin resistance - fasting - calorie restriction

Ethics Approval

The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee of Sant Hirdaram Medical College for Naturopathy & Yogic Sciences (F.No:12/SHMCNYS/IEC/P35), Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.


Consent to Participate

All the participants signed a written consent to express their consent to participate in the study.


Availability of Data and Material

The data will be made available on request to the corresponding author.




Publication History

Article published online:
22 January 2024

© 2024. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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