Vitamin D Deficiency is Associated with the Metabolic Syndrome in Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes

Background and Objectives: There is convincing evidence that subjects concomitantly affected by type 2 diabetes (T2D) and metabolic syndrome (MeS) are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Many metabolic derangements in T2D might be attributed to poor vitamin D status. The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations among vitamin D status, MeS and glycemic status in subjects with T2D. Materials and Methods: A total of 101 known cases of T2D (39 males, 62 females) were enrolled in a cross-sectional study by convenient sampling. Serum 25(OH)D3, glycemic markers and lipid profile were assessed. Results: Mean concentration of serum 25(OH)D3 was 42.2±33.8 nmol/L. Prevalence of undesirable vitamin D status (25(OH)D < 50nmol/L) was significantly higher among the subjects with MeS as compared to those without MeS (p=0.020). The subjects with sufficient vitamin D status had 50% lower risk for MeS compared to those who had vitamin D deficiency, and this association remained significant even after additional adjustment for body mass index (BMI), percent of fat mass or waist circumference. Conclusions: Our data showed that firstly higher vitamin D status is inversely associated with fasting glycemia, and secondly serum 25(OH)D3 predicts MeS risk in the subjects with T2D. Demonstrating the association of hypovitaminosis D with disorders of glucose metabolism and higher risk for development of further complications, notably CVD, may lead to a new target for preventive efforts at the population level. Keywords: Vitamin D, Type 2 diabetes, Metabolic syndrome, Cardiovascular disease