The aim of this study was to examine the serum levels of 25(OH)vitamin D in pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes and controls, and to determine whether patients had higher prevalence of vitamin D alterations and if they were correlated to disease duration/metabolic control.
A cross-sectional study of 123 patients (65 females) aged 11.84 ± 3.86 years and 46 non-diabetic controls (23 females), aged 10.2 ± 4.69 years was performed. 25(OH)vitamin D level was determined by electrochemiluminescence detection technology.
There was no statistically significant difference between 25(OH)vitamin D levels in diabetic patients and in controls (p = 0.17). The mean level of 25(OH)vitamin D in patients was lower – 71.61 ± 32.34 nmol/L than in controls – 78.32 ± 26.49 nmol/L. We used the Bulgarian Society of Endocrinology recommended ranges to define vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency as 25(OH)vitamin D level < 25 nmol/L and 25–49 nmol/L, respectively. None of the patients and 4.3% of controls (n = 2) had vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D insufficiency was observed in 19% of patients (n = 23) and in 8.7% of controls (n = 4).
Mean level of HbA1c in all patients was 78 mmol/mol (9.28% ± 1.85) whereas the mean duration of the disease was 5.25 ± 4.03 years. No correlation between metabolic control and disease duration on the one hand, and vitamin D levels on the other, was found.
To our knowledge this is the first study to examine vitamin D levels in Bulgarian pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes. Presence of disease does not influence vitamin D levels – we found no correlation with metabolic control (HbA1c), nor with disease duration. Our results show no significant differences between 25(OH)vitamin D levels in diabetic patients and in controls. Vitamin D insufficiency is slightly but not significantly prevalent in diabetic patients.
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