Therapeutic Applications of Vitamin D Supplementation on Type 2 Diabetes

Louay Labban

Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Kalamoon, Deir Atiyah, Syria.

DOI: 10.4236/oalib.1100333                

Abstract

Background: Many studies have found that vitamin D deficiency is associated with impaired human insulin action, suggesting a role in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM). This study investigated the effects of vitamin D3 supplementation on serum HbA1c values and 25(OH) vitamin D concentrations in healthy and diabetic individuals. Methods: 722 individuals aged from 36 to 61 years old were selected (360 males and 362 females) divided into two groups. Healthy male group consisted of 180 person with HbA1c value (6.78 ± 2.14) and 180 persons diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (HbA1c 11.64 ± 3.85). The healthy female group had also 180 person (HbA1c 7.42 ± 2.86) and 182 diabetic females (HbA1c 11.43 ± 2.88). Each group was then divided into two subgroups. One supplemented with (2000 IU/day) of vitamin D for 90 days and the other one was not given any vitamin D supplements. HbA1c and serum 25(OH) vitamin D were recorded. Results: Mean serum HbA1c values for both males and females improved with vitamin D supplementations but the improvement was significant in the diabetic group (males and females) comparing with healthy group. Serum HbA1c in healthy group improved by 4.8% and 2.7% for males and females respectively whereas serum HbA1c for diabetic group declined by 13.4% and 21.8% for group 7 - 9 and 9.6 and 22.1% for group > 9 for males and females respectively. Also, serum 25(OH) vitamin D concentrations improved dramatically with supplementation in healthy and diabetic groups. 25(OH) vitamin D for the healthy males improved by 67.9% and for healthy females 47.7% whereas for diabetic males and females improved by 53% and 31.7% and 56.6% and 77.2% for males and females HbA1c 7 - 9 and for HbA1c > 9 respectively. Conclusion: Vitamin D supplementation lowered serum HbA1c values of males and females especially in the group Hba1c values > 9 and this can be considered as a cheap and effective therapeutic tool in the management of type 2 diabetes. Also vitamin D supplementation improved concentration of serum 25(OH) vitamin D in both healthy and diabetic group upgrading their vitamin D status from deficiency to sufficiency.

Keywords

Vitamin D Supplements, Diabetes Type 2, HbA1c, 25(OH) Vitamin D, Syrian

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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