The association of vitamin D levels and insulin resistance

Vitamin D deficiency and insulin resistance have great prevalence in society. The latest studies indicate an inverse association between Vitamin D levels, insulin resistance, and Type 2 diabetes. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of vitamin D status on insulin resistance.

In a cross-sectional study, 2160 participants were randomly recruited from a nutrition clinic in Tehran, Iran, 1057 (48.9%) were female and 1103 (51.1%) male. Information was gathered by a questionnaire. Following 12-h fasting, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and insulin levels, as well as 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels were measured. 2-H glucose and insulin levels measured after consumption of 75 g glucose, HOMA2-IR, and HOMA-β indices were then calculated.

The average serum Vitamin D was 22.3 + 8.9 nmol/L and the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency was 100%. There was an inverse relationship between Vitamin D levels and age, BMI, waist circumference, and all metabolic parameters (p < 0.001 in all) and a direct association with levels of exercise. Two logistic regression models were used to adjust for confounding variables; firstly, for age, gender, and smoking and secondly, additionally for BMI and energy intake. Both models showed a significant inverse relationship between Vitamin D levels and FPG and insulin levels, 2-h glucose and insulin levels, and HOMA2-IR. The optimum cut point for vitamin D was calculated at about 25 nmol/L for preventing insulin resistance.

This study illustrated that there is a statistically significant inverse relationship between Vitamin D levels and insulin resistance.