Vitamin D Status and Glucose Hemostasis among Saudi Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and vitamin D deficiency are now considered a health problem worldwide that is strongly associated with cardiovascular mortality. Objective: This study was to investigate the possible relationship between vitamin D status and glucose hemostasis among Saudi type 2 diabetic patients. Material and Methods: One hundred sixty nine Saudi obese T2DM patients (116 females and 53 males) with body mass index (BMI) ranged from 30 to 36 Kg/ m2 and the mean of diabetes chronicity was 12.47±3.16 years treated with oral hypoglycemic agents e.g. metformin and/or pioglitazone were selected from the out-patient diabetic clinic of the King Abdulaziz Teaching Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Initially, a physician at King Abdulaziz University Hospital examined all participants; their medical history was taken to collect information about general condition, physical activity and current medications. Exclusion criteria included smokers, kidney insufficiency, congestive heart failure, pregnant female patients, hepatitis and respiratory failure. All participants were enrolled in three groups according to 25-OHD levels: vitamin D deficiency group (A) 25-OHD level <20 ng/ml, vitamin D deficiency group (B) 25-OHD level=20–30 ng/ml and normal vitamin D group(C) 25-OHD level >30 ng/ml. Results: Regarding glucose hemostasis, results revealed significantly higher values of QUICKI in group (C) compared to subgroup (A) and group (B) in addition to lower values of serum insulin, HOM-IR and HBA1c in subgroup (C) compared to group (A) and group (B). While there was significant difference between groups. Moreover, the 25-OHD showed a strong direct relationship with QUICKI and a strong inverse relationship with serum insulin, HOM-IR and HBA1c in the three groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: There is an association between glucose hemostasis and vitamin D among Saudi type 2 diabetic patients.