Osteopenia and Circulating Levels of Vitamin D Metabolites in Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

The degree of diabetic osteopenia and serum vitamin D metabolite levels were measured in 14 type 1 (insulin-dependent) and 168 type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients. Based on six indices obtained by microdensitometry, we found the bone mass in 28.6% of type 1 and 26.2% of type 2 diabetic patients to be decreased and in 14.3% and 11.9%, respectively, the decrease was severe. Our method of analysis of bone mass has shown that diabetic osteopenia differs from typical osteoporosis in character. In addition, serum 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D was significantly decreased both in type 1 and in type 2 diabetes {p<0.01), but 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D was significantly decreased only in type 1 diabetes (Pβ0.01) compared to the controls, being lower than that in type 2 diabetes (Pβ0.05). On the other hand, 25-hydroxyvitamin D was similar to that of the controls, in both types of diabetes. © 1985, Center for Academic Publications Japan. All rights reserved.