China: A recent study published in the BMC Endocrine Disorders suggested a positive relationship between the vitamin D status and modified HOMA-β. According to the study, an increase in vitamin D or vitamin D supplementation may be related to delayed pancreatic β cell functional decline and improved modified HOMA-β function and vice-versa.
Homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) is a method for the assessment of β-cell function and insulin resistance (IR) from basal (fasting) glucose and insulin or C-peptide concentrations.
Widespread type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has caused a burden worldwide. Evaluation of islet function is important for patients with T2DM because it is usually used to assess the progress of T2DM and to guide drug usage. A group of researchers from China performed a study to explore the relationship between vitamin D status and islet function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
The participants were recruited from Hebei General Hospital. Basic characteristics and blood indicators were collected after fasting overnight. The data were analyzed statistically using SPSS 22.0. Analysis of variance, a nonparametric test, or a trend Chi-square test was used for the comparisons. The association between 25-hydroxy vitamin D and modified homeostasis model assessment-β was assessed using multivariate ordinal logistic regression.
The results of the study are as follows:
One hundred seventy-four patients aged 26 to 79 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus were included in this study.
Patients with vitamin D deficiency had a lower modified homeostasis model assessment-β level compared with those without vitamin D deficiency.
There were differences in body mass index, diabetes course, glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting blood glucose, fasting blood C-peptide, triglyceride, and 25-hydroxy vitamin D among different modified homeostasis model assessment-β groups based upon the tertiles. 25-hydroxy vitamin D, as continuous or categorical variables, was positively related to modified homeostasis model assessment-β whether or not cofounding factors were adjusted.
The researchers concluded that there is an association between increased 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels and improvement in modified homeostasis model assessment-β function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Increase in or supplementation of vitamin D may be related to improved modified HOMA-β function and delayed pancreatic β cell functional decline.
Reference:
The relationship between vitamin D status and islet function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by Hang Zhao et al published in the BMC Endocrine disorders.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-021-00862-y