Publication:

A study to assess the effect of vitamin D supplementation on insulin resistance and glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Background Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is highly prevalent worldwide and its intensive control with available pharmacological agents is usually hampered due to numerous side-effects as well as resistance to the therapy. Recent research suggests that vitamin D supplementation ameliorates glycaemic burden and effectively reduces the risk and progression of type 2 diabetes. So, present study was done to assess the effect of vitamin D supplementation on glycaemic control and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods A Prospective Randomized Parallel Open-label study of three months duration was conducted on 60 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, who were divided into two groups (group A and B) of 30 patients each. Group A received standard oral hypoglycaemic agents and 600000 IU of intramuscular injection of vitamin D3 for 3 doses one month apart, while the Group B received only standard oral hypoglycaemic agents. Subjects were evaluated for fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, serum insulin levels, insulin resistance and serum vitamin D levels at defined intervals.

Results The results showed a significant improvement in fasting blood glucose in both the groups during the study period (group A p<0.004, group B p<0.03), however no significant difference was observed between the two groups (p<0.7) at the end of 12 weeks. There was a significant decrease in HbA1c (p<0.04), serum insulin levels (p<0.04) and HOMA-IR (p<0.03) in group A compared with group B.

Conclusions The study showed that vitamin D supplementation improves the glycaemic control and insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.