Vitamin D levels, prediabetes risk and hemoglobin A1c levels in young non‐diabetic Saudi women

Abstract

Aims/Introduction Vitamin D levels are negatively correlated with prediabetes risk and hemoglobin A1c levels in individuals with prediabetes. The data are, however, scarce and inconsistent among different populations. We aimed to assess the association of vitamin D with prediabetes risk and hemoglobin A1c levels in young Saudi women with normoglycemia and prediabetes. Materials and Methods We analyzed the data of individuals without diabetes (without diabetes history and hemoglobin A1c <6.4%) from the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University’s non‐communicable diseases student registry. Demographic data, anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, and hemoglobin A1c and vitamin D results were retrieved and analyzed. Results In total, 345 participants were included in the analysis. The prediabetes status showed no association with vitamin D levels, but it was significantly associated with the participants’ weight and body mass index. Additionally, there was no correlation between the levels of vitamin D and hemoglobin A1c across the whole population, even after correction for body mass index. However, in the body mass index subgroups, when individuals with potentially harmful levels of vitamin D (>125 nmol/L) were excluded, a positive association was detected between vitamin D and hemoglobin A1c levels in the underweight individuals. Hemoglobin A1c values showed a positive correlation only with bodyweight and body mass index. Conclusions Vitamin D levels did not predict prediabetes status and showed no correlation with hemoglobin A1c levels in this population. Vitamin D levels’ effect on the risk of prediabetes might be small compared with other well‐established risk factors, such as obesity.

Vitamin D Status in Prediabetes and its Different Categories

“…Gioreli et al didn't find any association of vitamin D with fasting and 2H-OGTT glucose values33 . No correlation between HbA1c and vitamin D was also found by other studies20,22 . Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination survey found a negative correlation between vitamin D level and HbA1c among US adults of a specific age group who reported them as free from DM34 .…”

“…However, this IFG group might have IGT simultaneously 19 . Based on HbA1c, one study did not find any significant difference of mean vitamin D level in a group of young women with prediabetes 22 . One study found significantly higher mean vitamin D level and lower serum calcium level in the people of NGT group that were not consistent with our findings 23 .…”