TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS AND VITAMIN D STATUS - A CASE CONTROL STUDY

OBJECTIVE: Both type 2 DM and vitamin D deficiency are widely prevalent in India. Since, vitamin D is known to affect both insulin secretion and action either directly by gene modulation via vitamin D receptors or indirectly by altering calcium metabolism and transcellular calcium flux, we wanted to establish whether patients with type 2 DM have lower levels of vitamin D when compared to that of controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a cross sectional case control observational study, conducted from April 2011 to March 2012. Patients attending the diabetes clinic at Victoria Hospital, Bangalore were recruited as cases. Age and sex matched non diabetic patient's attendants and hospital staff were recruited as controls, after obtaining an informed consent in writing. After physical examination and anthropometric measurements, fasting serum samples were collected for estimation of 25(OH) D levels and other biochemical parameters. RESULTS: 242 subjects were included in the study, of which 139 were cases and 103 controls. Serum 25(OH) Dlevels ≤ 30ng/ml was found in 122 cases and 89 controls which was not statistically significant (p=0.658). CONCLUSION: In our study 87% of subjects (i.e. 211 of 242) were having less than optimal levels of vitamin D levels. This high level of prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is in conformation with results of other similar studies reported from India. Though statistically not significant, males andnon- vegetarians had slightly higher levels of vitamin D. we could not establish an inverse association between serum vitamin D levels and prevalent type 2 DM, probably because of cross sectional study design, small sample size, high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and other unknown