VITAMIN D STATUS AND DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a worldwide epidemic, similarly low Vitamin D
levels constitutes a largely unrecognized epidemic in many populations. There is no study in our
country to document the association between these two common metabolic disorders.
Objective: To assess the degree of correlation between vitamin D status and various categories
of hyperglycaemia in a Pakistani population. Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional study.
Place & Period of Study: Department of Pathology, PNS SHIFA Hospital, Karachi; Jan 2013 to
Aug 2013. Glucose levels were measured in eight six patients divided on the basis of their 25-
hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD) levels in three groups, normal (>31 ng/ml), insufficient (20-31ng/ml)
and deficient (<20ng/ml). 25OHD was measured by electrochemiluminescence using Roche
Elecsys® Systems while glucose was estimated by routine methods on Roche Hitachi®
Autoanalyser. Results: Vitamin D levels were inversely correlated with plasma glucose levels
(r=0.38; p<0.01) with an Odd Ratio of 3.59 (95%confidence interval 1.29 to 8.70). Fasting plasma
glucose was significantly higher in vitamin D deficient patients as compared to patients with
normal vitamin D status (p<0.05). Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is negatively associated
with plasma glucose levels.