Vitamin D Status and Its Relationship with Metabolic Markers in Persons with Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in the UAE: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Aim. To report vitamin D status and its impact on metabolic parameters in people in the United Arab Emirates with obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methodology. This cross-sectional study included 309 individuals with obesity and T2D who were randomly selected based on study criteria. Serum concentrations of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (s-25(OH)D), calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, alkaline phosphatase, glycemic profile, and cardiometabolic parameters were assessed in fasting blood samples, and anthropometric measurements were recorded. Results. Vitamin D deficiency (s-25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L) was observed in 83.2% of the participants, with a mean s-25(OH)D of 33.8 ± 20.3 nmol/L. Serum 25(OH)D correlated negatively (P < 0.01) with body mass index, fat mass, waist circumference, parathyroid hormone, alkaline phosphatase, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B and positively (P < 0.01) with age and calcium concentration. Waist circumference was the main predictor of s-25(OH)D status. There was no significant association between serum 25(OH)D and glycemic profile. Conclusion. There is an overwhelming prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in our sample of the Emirati population with obesity and T2D. Association of s-25(OH)D with body mass index, waist circumference, fat mass, markers of calcium homeostasis and cardiometabolic parameters suggests a role of vitamin D in the development of cardiometabolic disease-related process.

Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Determinants in Adults: A Sample from Community-Based Settings in the United Arab Emirates

“…Demographic factors have long been a source of interest in the epidemiology of vitamin D deficiency [19, 21, 22]. Interestingly, our study found that vitamin D levels were significantly lower in Emirati as compared to non-Emirati adults.…”

The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency between Saudis and non-Saudis in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah a cross-sectional study

“…Likewise, Bani-Issa and colleagues (2017) have observed obesity and T2DM to be bivariate correlators (which were independent of each other) with vitamin D deficiency in Emiratis (12). In addition, Sadiya et al (2014) documented in their cross-sectional study which was performed in UAE the coexistence of these three cofactors – obesity, vitamin D deficiency and T2DM (54). Therefore, the present study recommends early screening and detection of T2DM in the presence of obesity and vitamin D deficiency, with rapid and aggressive corrections of these two predisposing factors.…”

Vitamin D status and body composition: a cross-sectional study among employees at a private university in Lebanon

“…Accordingly, more research is focusing on the understanding of the relationship between vitamin D status and obesity [8]. Studies in the Middle East assessing this relationship are limited [10][11][12], even though many countries in the Middle East reported high prevalence rates of low vitamin D status and obesity [5,9,13]. Gannage et al, 2010 showed that 25(OH)D was inversely correlated with BMI (r = − 0.18; p < 0.01) and WC (r = − 0.19; p < 0.01) among 381 Lebanese non-obese university students.…”

“…One cross-sectional study among 309 obese diabetic adults (age range: 30-60 years) in UAE showed that the prevalence of 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L was 83.2%. Furthermore, serum 25(OH)D correlated negatively with body mass index (BMI) (r = − 0.15, p < 0.05), waist circumference (WC) (r = − 0.17, p < 0.05), and fat mass (r = − 0.16, p < 0.05) [10]. The results of this study cannot be generalized to the general population, as the study participants were diabetic and obese, and the relationship between vitamin D status and obesity could be altered by diabetes.…”