Abstract
Background and Objectives: Vitamin D is the only vitamin that acts as a hormone and its deficiency impairs insulin synthesis and excretion. This study aimed at evaluating the serum vitamin D level in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus and its correlation with HbA1C.
Materials and Methods: In this analytical study, serum vitamin D level in 50 type I diabetic children was compared with that in 50 healthy subjects. In diabetic group, correlation between serum vitamin D level and HbA1C was evaluated as well.
Results: The median serum 25(OH) D3 level in diabetic group was significantly lower than that in the non-diabetic group (31.05 mmol/L vs. 42 mmmol/L, P=0.01). In the diabetic group, there were 19 cases (38%) with deficient and 31 cases (62%) with insufficient serum level of 25(OH)D3, while in the non-diabetic group, there were 9 cases (18%) with deficient and 41 cases (82%) with insufficient serum level of 25(OH) D3 (P=0.03). There was no significant correlation between serum level of 25(OH) D3 and HbA1c (P=0.7, r=0.06).
Conclusion: Children with type I diabetes mellitus had low serum vitamin D level in comparison with non-diabetic healthy children. There was no significant correlation between serum vitamin D level and HbA1C.