High Prevalence of Hypovitaminosis D in Female Type 2 Diabetic Population

Animal studies have demonstrated lower levels of 1,25(OH)2D3 in a type 2 diabetes model compared with controls (1). Alterations in circulating vitamin D3 metabolites, such as decreased 1α-hydroxylase activity and enhanced renal 25-hydroxylase activity, have been found in both experimental and human diabetes. These alterations in vitamin D metabolism may be associated with the deranged mineral homeostasis and skeletal morphology observed in rats and people with chronic insulin deficiency (2). Experimentally, vitamin D deficiency progressively reduces insulin secretion, and this reduction soon becomes irreversible (3). It was also shown that insulin deficiency may be associated with lower vitamin D–binding …