Vitamin D Supplementation lowers HbA1c Levels in T2DM: Study

Vitamin D deficiency could play an important role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as it may alter several crucial processes in the development of diabetes and its complications, such as pancreatic insulin secretion, peripheral insulin resistance, persistence of systemic "sterile" inflammation and immune activation. Vitamin D may also have an antioxidant effect through the inhibition of free radicals' generation.

A team of researchers from Montenegro conducted a study with eligible consecutively recruited patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on standard metformin therapy (n=130), randomized in 1:1 ratio, considered to have undergone Vitamin D supplementation according to the guidelines proposed by the Endocrine Society or to have continued with metformin only. The potential benefit was monitored through the influence on glycemic level, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin resistance index (calculated as homeostatic model assessment; HOMA-IR), Castelli Risk Index I and Tryglicerides/Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TG/TBARS) Index in a 6-month follow up period.

The results of the study are as follows:

· The oral daily doses of vitamin D improve HbA1c levels over the 3-month and 6-month period, followed by a significant decrease in advanced oxidation protein products levels over the 3-month period when higher vitamin D doses are given.

· The effect of vitamin D on HOMA-IR index, malondialdehyde levels and TG/TBARS index was not statistically significant.

Thus, the researchers concluded that further investigation should consider defining the doses of vitamin D in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) which may attenuate the oxidative stress risk, the risk of metabolic syndrome and the risk of related cardiovascular events.

Reference:

The Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Metabolic and Oxidative Stress Markers in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A 6-Month Follow Up Randomized Controlled Study by Cojic M et. al published in the Frontiers in Endocrinology.

DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.610893