The Role of Cholecalciferol in the Reduction of Insulin Resistance and Rehabilitation of Women with Primary Hypothyreosis

Background. Vitamin D deficiency is one of the risk factors for insulin resistance and there is a relationship between hypovitaminosis of vitamin D with the prevalence of primary hypo Experimental thyroidism. The effect of cholecalciferol supplementation on insulin resistance in women with primary hypothyroidism has not been investigated before. The aim of the study is to evaluate the role of cholecalciferol supplementation on insulin resistance in primary hypothyroidism. Materials and methods. 72 women, aged 31-75 took part in the study. Serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), insulin and 25(OH)D concentration were measured and HOMA-IR was calculated. All measurements were performed at the beginning and the end of the study. Women with hypothyroidism had been receiving 21.000 unit of cholecalciferol orally per week during twelve weeks. The results were analyzed by descriptive tests and the comparison between variables was made by using paired T-tests. Results. All participants had vitamin D deficiency. Mean serum 25(OH)D concentration was 21.94 ± 6.31 ng/ml. The results at the beginning and at the end were for insulin 18.37 ± 2.48 and 10.19 ± 2.13 mIU/L (p = 0.041) and for HOMA-IR, 3.97 ± 0.36 and 2.32 ± 0.18 (p = 0.039), respectively. Conclusion. Vitamin D deficiency is common in women with primary hypothyroidism. Our data have shown some significant improvement in serum insulin and in HOMA-IR after treatment with cholecalciferol.