Vitamin D Assay Values in a Diabetes Study: a Vitamin D Comparison Model

Vitamin D (Calcitriol)(25(OH)D), is actually a hormone with three recognized metabolic functions as in calcium management, terminal organ differentiation and immune modulation. This study is concerned with hypovitaminosis D associated with insulin and pancreatic beta cell dysfunction ( Chin KC , et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2004 ; 79 ( 5 ): 820 – 5 . In this study we are comparing subjects in four physiologic categories, metabolic syndrome (67 subjects)(S), Type I (16 S) and II (155 S) diabetics and controls (123 S) in a highly health motivated self selected, cohort. These subjects (ages 35–75 years) were beginning a dietary lifestyle change program. Vitamin D assay levels, were assayed in this study, during 2003 and 2004, by Quest Diagnostics with the Nichols ADVANTAGE 25‐OH Vitamin D method. Our vitamin D values in ng/mL, gave us a control mean, ± the standard error of the mean of 29.76 ± 1.19, Metabolic Syndrome 23.87 ± 1.36, Type 1 diabetics 29.62 ± 2.68, and Type 2 diabetics 22.99 ± 0.89. Both the Metabolic Syndrome and the Type 2 diabetics are significantly lower in 25‐OH Vitamin D values than our controls (p<0.05). In our Vitamin D model the values are significantly correlated (p<0.05) between vitamin D values with LDL, BMI, micro albumin and systolic blood pressure. We propose that this model of physiological values be strongly considered in assessing the importance of vitamin D deficiency metabolism, which is highly prevalent in older subjects.