Vitamin D deficiency Prevalent in T2DM patients

Vitamin D plays an important role in bone and modulates mineral metabolism and immune function with a probable link to several chronic and infectious conditions. In vivo studies have revealed that vitamin D deficiency reduces insulin secretion capacity and several studies have also shown a correlation between vitamin D levels and insulin resistance, nonetheless, extensive studies showing the relationship between the two are lacking especially among the southern Indian population.

The present study published in the Journal of the Association of Physicians of India was aimed at evaluating the relationship between vitamin D and insulin resistance by using the homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).

The cross-sectional study included 184 people among which 92 were diabetic and 92 were nondiabetic. Fasting serum insulin (I0), fasting plasma glucose (G0), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C), renal function test, liver function test (LFT), lipid profile, and vitamin D levels were all estimated.

Results of the study showed that the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 78.2% among diabetic cases and 64.1% among the nondiabetic controls, with the diabetic cases showing lower levels of vitamin D than the controls, however, it was not statistically significant.

Hence, the researchers concluded that Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in both type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as well as nondiabetic. Furthermore, there is no association between vitamin D deficiency and insulin resistance or beta-cell function.

Reference: Prasad BNR, Imran T, Ahmed R, et al. Influence of Serum Levels of Vitamin D on Insulin Resistance in Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus. J Assoc Physicians India 2022;70(7):28–32.