The role of vitamin d and calcium supplementation in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Mounting evidence suggests a crucial role for vitamin D in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our objectives were to examine the correlation between serum calcidiol and diabetes outcomes, and determine whether vitamin 03 and calcium supplementation would attenuate the severity of T2DM. Eleven non-white, post-menopausal women with T2DM (age, 61 ± 11 y) were supplemented for 3 y with either placebo or 1800 IU 03 + 720 mg calcium (CaD)/day. The relative change over 3 y in serum calcidiol significantly inversely correlated with the relative change in body weight, BMI, body fat (%), hip circumference, serum TC/HDL-C and serum PTH, whereas it positively correlated with serum calcium. Retrospective analysis showed differences between the CaD vs. placebo in hip circumference, serum calcidiol, serum PTH and systolic blood pressure. We conclude that modest improvements in vitamin D status may mitigate the decrement in T2DM-related sequelae in non-white, post-menopausal women.