Association between Vitamin D Status and Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Saudi Adolescents

ABSTRACT

Background: Nowadays, the deficiency of vitamin D (VD) is a health problem worldwide, that affects many people including adolescentswho have type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). However, the role of VD in autoimmune diseases such as T1DM has been a recent interest. Aim:This study was designed to assess the VD deficiency prevalence in Saudi adolescents with or without T1DM. Methods: In this case-controlstudy, 49 T1DM and 49 control (non-DM) (N=98), age and gender-matched were enrolled. The study was carried out from May toSeptember 2017 at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH). After obtaining the consent form, the blood samples were withdrawn todetermine fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in blood and VD (25OHD) in serum. Statistical analysis wasmade by SPSS version 22. Results: Data showed that 25OHD levels were significantly lower in adolescents with T1DM compared to thecontrols (49.5 ± 26.9 nmol/L vs 67.96 ± 30.03 nmol/L). In the T1DM adolescents, VD was deficient in 44.9%, insufficient in 36.7%, andsufficient in 18.4% as compared with 34.7% (deficient), 26.5% (insufficient), and 42.86% (sufficient) in non-DM adolescents. Overall, VDwas deficient and insufficient in 81.6% of the T1DM adolescents and 61.2% of non-DM adolescents, respectively. Considering sex, femalesshowed higher significance between T1DM and non-DM groups in overall groups, and in all VD level subgroups, males showedsignificance (p<0.05) in only overall groups and in insufficient VD levels. The data showed an inverse correlation between HbA1c and FBGvalues with VD concentration. While there was no correlation between both glycemic parameters with VD in non-DM group. Conclusion:The VD deficiency prevalence in T1DM Saudi adolescents was relatively high particularly in females. Therefore, screening for VD statusand supplementation in early young age should be warranted.