Blood sugar, or glucose, provides fuel for your cells. Sugar in your blood nourishes your brain cells, allowing for cognitive function throughout the day, and also provides energy to other cells important to your daily functioning. A number of vitamins help control the level of sugar in your blood, preventing low or high blood sugar levels, which can pose health risks.
Vitamin B-3
Vitamin B-3, or niacin, plays a role in increasing the levels of glucose in your bloodstream, and can cause high blood sugar when consumed in high amounts. As a result, high-dose niacin supplementation might prove harmful for individuals with diabetes who already have difficulty controlling their blood sugar. If you suffer from diabetes, do not take dietary supplements containing niacin without prior permission from your doctor, and alert your physician of any changes in niacin supplementation.
Vitamin B-6
Vitamin B-6, or pyridoxine, also plays a role in regulating your blood sugar levels by controlling the breakdown of carbohydrates. Pyridoxine responds to low blood sugar by helping break down glycogen into glucose, increasing your blood sugar levels back to normal. As a result, a vitamin B-6 deficiency -- rare in otherwise healthy individuals -- might affect how your body regulates your blood sugar, posing a health risk in some individuals.
Vitamin D
A study published in the "Journal of Endocrinological Investigation" in 2011 found that vitamin D-3 helped women with PCOS -- a hormonal disorder in women that can affect blood sugar -- better utilize glucose, helping to relieve the high blood sugar that can develop due to their disorder. However, the specific role of vitamin D-3 in controlling blood sugar requires further investigation, as well as clinical trials to determine its potential as a blood sugar-controlling therapy.
Considerations
While some vitamins can help to reduce or increase your blood glucose levels, vitamins represent one of several types of compounds that control your blood sugar. As a result, defects in blood glucose regulation can develop due to a number of causes, including genetics, side effects of medication, or underlying disease. Never try to treat high or low blood sugar on your own by taking vitamin supplements. If you suffer from difficulty controlling your blood sugar, talk to your physician about the possible benefits of vitamin therapy.
