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 metabolic syndrome and obesity, 2022-01, Vol.15, p.647-657
• Main Authors: Nasr, Muhammed Hassan, Hassan, Bassam Abdul Rasool, Othman, Noordin, Karuppannan, Mahmathi, Abdulaziz, Noorizan Binti, Mohammed, Ali Haider, Alsarani, Mohammed Ahmed, Eskembaji, Mohammed Husain, Aman, Abdelmannan Mohamed, Othman, Gamil
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alfacalcidol; Calcifediol; Diabetics; Diet therapy; Information management; Medical societies; Original Research; saudi arabia; t2dm; Type 2 diabetes; Vitamin D; Vitamin D deficiency
• ISSN: 1178-7007; 1178-7007
• DOI: 10.2147/DMSO.S350626

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. 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. 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 ( = 0.001). Besides, duration of diabetes was the only factor, found to be positively correlated with vitamin D deficiency in T2DM patients. 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.