Children who get vitamin D have a lower risk of type 1 diabetes.

Researchers combined data from public studies and suggest that vitamin D supplements cuts child risk of type 1 diabetes by 29%.

It's not clear how vitamin D might fight diabetes. However, Zipitis and Akobeng note that insulin-making beta cells in the pancreas are sensitive to vitamin D.

(More: http://diabetes.webmd.com/news/20080312/vitamin-d-may-cut-child-diabetes-risk)

Low blood concentrations of vitamin D may be associated with higher blood pressure in whites, indicating a risk of developing hypertension, or high blood that requires medical treatment, researchers report. However, this relationship was not noted among blacks.

"Though easily corrected by taking a vitamin D supplement or having causal sunlight exposure, vitamin D insufficiency is highly prevalent in the United States," Dr. Vin Tangpricha told Reuters Health.

WASHINGTON, Jan 28 (Reuters) - African immigrants with low levels of vitamin D are much more likely to be infected with tuberculosis, a finding that suggests the vitamin may help prevent and treat TB, Australian researchers said on Monday.

(http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN28469425)