CORRELATION OF SERUM VITAMIN D LEVEL WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES MELLITUS IN CHILDREN: A META-ANALYSIS

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Nutritional Biochemistry
• Immunology

Background:

• Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting children.
• Vitamin D plays a crucial role in immune system regulation and has been investigated for its potential role in T1DM pathogenesis.
• Previous studies have yielded conflicting results regarding the association between serum vitamin D levels and T1DM in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically evaluate and synthesize the existing evidence on the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and T1DM in pediatric populations.
• To determine if lower vitamin D levels are significantly associated with T1DM in children through a meta-analysis.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple electronic databases (PubMed, EMbase, Medline, etc.) up to September 2014.
• Ten relevant studies were identified and included in the meta-analysis.
• Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS), and statistical analyses were performed using Stata 11.0 software.

Main Results:

• The meta-analysis included 10 studies, encompassing a total number of participants.
• Children diagnosed with T1DM exhibited significantly lower serum vitamin D levels compared to healthy control groups (Mean Difference = -0.60, P < 0.05).
• No significant publication bias was detected in the included studies, indicating the robustness of the findings.

Conclusions:

• The findings suggest a significant inverse association between serum vitamin D levels and the presence of T1DM in children.
• Lower vitamin D status may be a contributing factor or a consequence of T1DM in pediatric patients.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the causal mechanisms and potential therapeutic implications of vitamin D supplementation in T1DM management.