Severe hypovitaminosis D is widespread and more common in non-diabetics than diabetics in Saudi adults

To compare the incidence of hypovitaminosis D in subjects, with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM], and determine its association to various risk factors. Three hundred and forty-one [177 non-diabetic, and 164 T2DM] Saudi adults were included in this cross-sectional study conducted at the Biomarkers Research Program [BRP] of King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from March to August 2009. Anthropometrics and fasting blood samples were obtained. Fasting glucose [FG] and lipid profiles were determined. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25[OH]D] and parathyroid hormone [PTH] were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Severe hypovitaminosis D was defined as serum 25[OH]D with levels <12.5 nmol/l. Age was the most significant predictor of 25[OH]D in both groups, explaining 25% [p=0.0005] and 16% of variances [p=0.0005]. Waist-hip ratio, systolic blood pressure and body mass index were significant predictors of 25[OH]D among non-diabetics after age adjustment, explaining 21% of variance perceived [p=0.039]. Serum PTH levels were higher in non-diabetic men and women. Severe hypovitaminosis D is prevalent in both non-diabetic and diabetic Saudis, but was more common in the young and middle-aged non-diabetics. The study further underscores the need for vitamin D fortification of the Saudi diet, and the promotion of vitamin D supplementation in both groups

Relationship between beta cell function and islet cell antibodies in newly diagnosed adult Saudi diabetics

The relationship between islet cell antibodies [ICA] and pancreatic beta cell secretory activity was studied in 108 newly diagnosed untreated adult diabetic patients. Beta cell function was evaluated by measuring C-peptide immunoreactivity [CPR] in the fasting state and 6 min after an intravenous injection of glucagon. Residual beta cell function was present in 90 ICA negative [97.9%] and in 15 ICA positive [93.8%] patients [CPR after stimulation >0.06 nM/l]. Only one ICA positive and two ICA negative patients had no response of secretory activity and thus were subjected to insulin treatment. Positive correlations were found between basal CPR and CPR after stimulation [r=0.99, p<0.001 for ICA positive, and r=0.90, p<0.001 for ICA negative patients]. Our findings indicate that there is no relationship between the pancreatic beta cell potential activity and the presence of ICA in newly diagnosed adult Saudi diabetic patients suggesting further that these patients have no insulin deficiency or have mild insulin dependency

Frequency of islet cell antibodies in adult newly diagnosed diabetic patients

The sera of 138 Saudi patients with newly diagnosed diabetes [age, 24 to 75 years] were tested for islet-cell autoantibody [ICA], complement-findings islet cell antibody [CF-ICA], and thyroid, stomach, and antinuclear autoantibodies. The autoantibody tests were done on 70 nondiabetic normal control subjects matched for age, sex and with. Total ICA test were positive in 13% [18/138] of the diabetics above age 35 years. Six of these sear also fixed complement. A significant incidence of ICA in each subgroup was noted in the following age ranges: 35-44 [12.8%], 45-54 [14.3%], and above 60 years [29.4%]. Moreover, the incidence was higher in females [8.7%; 12/138] than in males [4.3%; 6/138]. These differences were significant [P< 0.001]. Control group subjects were all ICA negative. In relation to age at onset above 35 years, Saudi adult diabetics appeared to be characterized by the ICA marker, indicating ongoing beta cell damage and possible subsequent insulin dependency. Thyroid, gastric parietal cell, and antinuclear autoantibodies were absent in the ICA-positive patients but were present in 36.6% [44/120] of the diabetic ICA-negative subject as well as in 45.7% [32/70] of the control subjects. This absence of other organ-specific antibodies in ICA-positive subjects could be due to an altered immunological state produced by many parasitic infections