Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency Between Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients and Non-Diabetics in the Arab Gulf

• Published in: Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity
• Main Author: Nasr M.H.; Hassan B.A.R.; Othman N.; Karuppannan M.; Abdulaziz N.B.; Mohammed A.H.; Alsarani M.A.; Eskembaji M.H.; Aman A.M.; Othman G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press Ltd 2022
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85125844884&doi=10.2147%2fDMSO.S350626&partnerID=40&md5=2cb2c62fae6223b20ff410b130787e62

Background: The link between the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and vitamin D deficiency has perplexed the medical society due to the controversy in the data available. Saudi Arabia (SA) is a sunny region; however, ample amount of data reported the increased prevalence of vitamin D deficiency along with T2DM. Thus, this study aimed to compare vitamin D deficiency between healthy and T2DM patients in SA, alongside with the risk factors associated with that. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Medical Unit, Taibah University in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, SA, from November 2017 to May 2018. The involved participants were non-diabetics and T2DM men. Measuring vitamin D for T2DM and non-diabetics group was done by trained technicians. Data analysis was done via SPSS. Results: Sixty-four participants (T2DM group = 32; non-diabetics group = 32) were recruited, and the mean age of T2DM patients was 48.6 ± 10.4, while that of the non-diabetics was 42.4 ± 6.5. The mean of vitamin D level was found higher in the non-diabetic participants than in diabetic patients. There was statistically significant association between vitamin D deficiency and T2DM (P = 0.001). Besides, duration of diabetes was the only factor, found to be positively correlated with vitamin D deficiency in T2DM patients. Conclusion: Early screening for vitamin D serum-level is recommended for T2DM patients in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, early correction of vitamin D levels should be considered, and medical and scientific societies, along with other sectors such as the media, should highlight and increase the awareness of the importance of vitamin D and the seriousness of its deficiency. © 2022 Nasr et al. This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited.