Correlation of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Serum Lipid Levels Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

The Correlation Between Vitamin D Levels and the Glycemic Marker HbA1c and Lipid Profile in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Study at the King Saud Medical City, Riyadh

Background and objective Vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin also called the sunshine vitamin, is produced in plants, and animals when exposed to sunlight. It plays a crucial role in musculoskeletal development, immune system regulation, and glucose metabolism, thereby reducing the risk of diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the association of vitamin D levels with glycemic control markers [glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c)] and lipid profile, as well as sociodemographic factors and comorbidities. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted at the King Saud Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, among adult diabetic patients aged 20 years and above. The sociodemographic characteristics, vitamin D levels, HbA1c, and lipid profiles of 472 participants were studied. Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics version 27 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results The majority of the participants were women (n=296, 62.7%); the mean age of the cohort was 56.5 ±13.13 years. Most participants were Saudi nationals (n=361, 76.5%). Lab tests revealed vitamin D deficiency (71.41 ±36.88 nmol/l) and elevated HbA1c (9.49 ±9.85%) in the cohort. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels were higher than normal (2.71 ±4.26 mmol/l), while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was slightly lower (1.23 ±0.39 mmol/l). Bivariate correlations showed weak negative and positive associations between vitamin D and HbA1c (r=-0.093, p<0.05) and HDL (r=0.114, p<0.05), respectively. HbA1c correlated positively with triglycerides (r=0.168, p<0.01). Conclusions We found an association between deficiency of vitamin D and levels of HbA1c and lipid profile in type 2 diabetes patients. The association was marked by low vitamin D levels and characterized by high HbA1c, LDL cholesterol, and lipid profile. Elevated HbA1c, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels suggested vitamin D's role in lipid homeostasis. Variations in biomarker levels across sociodemographic factors highlight the need for personalized interventions for diabetes prevention and management.

Novel Insight Into the Relationship of Vitamin D Hydroxylase and Vitamin D With Obesity in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND

In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity, there is often a vitamin D deficiency, which is crucial for many physiological processes. The enzyme 25-D hydroxylase activates vitamin D, and its status has been linked to glucose and lipid metabolism in these patients. This study investigates the correlation between the levels of 25-D hydroxylase and 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and their impact on glucose and lipid metabolism in Saudi patients with T2DM and obesity.

METHODS

This study involved 150 Saudi participants (ages 35-70) of both genders from King Faisal Medical Complex in Taif. The participants were divided into control, type 2 diabetic, and obese diabetic patient groups, with 50 subjects in each group. Serum levels of 25(OH) vitamin D and 25-D hydroxylase were measured using ELISA. In contrast, an automatic analyzer for chemistry tests was used to measure fasting blood glucose (FBG), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and lipid profile levels. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)% was analyzed using the automatic glycosylated hemoglobin analyzer. In addition, the body mass index (BMI) value was calculated using the equation (BMI = weight in kilograms/height in meters squared).

RESULTS

In obese with T2DM and T2DM patient groups, there were significant increases (p < 0.0001) in BMI, FBG, HbA1c%, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), AST, and ALT levels and significant decreases (p < 0.0001) in 25(OH) vitamin D, 25-D hydroxylase, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels compared to the control group. There were significant positive correlations between vitamin D with 25-D hydroxylase and HDL-C and negative correlations with HbA1c%, FBG, TC, TG, LDL-C, ALT, AST, and BMI in the studied patient groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that lower levels of the enzyme 25-D hydroxylase are linked to reduced vitamin D levels in people with T2DM and obese diabetic patients. Additionally, there was a notable correlation between vitamin D levels and BMI, lipid profile, FBG, HbA1c%, AST, and ALT levels.

Beneficial effects of vitamin D in the management of untreated hyperlipidemia in diabetic patients in Erbil, Iraq

Hyperlipidemia is highly prevalent among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. As hyperlipidemia plays a major part in atherosclerosis development and progression, this occurrence is linked to a significantly raised risk of cardiovascular disease. This study aims to assess the effects of vitamin D supplementation on lipid parameters in T2DM patients with untreated hyperlipidemia. Thirty-five T2DM patients with hyperlipidemia and vitamin D deficiency were supplemented with vitamin D for three months. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D), calcium, lipid parameters, atherogenic indices, glucose, and HbA1c were recorded before and after the intervention. After supplementation, there was a statistically significant reduction in VLDL-C and triglycerides. Triglycerides showed a significant negative correlation with 25(OH)D. Atherogenic indices and HDL-C also improved significantly. Vitamin D supplementation had beneficial effects on the lipid profile of T2DM patients with untreated hyperlipidemia and vitamin D deficiency. Thus, vitamin D could be a valuable adjuvant therapy for these patients.