THE PREVALENCE OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY IN PATIENTS WITH NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE AND T2DM

Abstract

INTRODUCTION
Vitamin D has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects and its deficiency is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in patients with T2DM and NAFLD.

METHODOLOGY
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with both T2DM and NAFLD. We conducted a cross-sectional study in adult patients with T2DM, and they were divided into 2 groups: patients with T2DM and NAFLD (n = 86) and patients with T2DM without NAFLD (n=24). The definition of NAFLD was based on the presence of liver steatosis via ultrasound abdomen. Serum total 25-hydroxy-D3 (vitamin D) level was analysed using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay and defined as deficient if the level was <50 nmol/L. The sample size calculated was 47 patients per group.

RESULTS
The prevalence of vitamin deficiency in the overall population was 48.2% (53/110). There was a numerically higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with T2DM and NAFLD compared to those without NAFLD (52.3% (45/86) vs 33.3% (8/24), p=0.1). The mean serum vitamin D levels of patients with T2DM and NAFLD were statistically lower than those without NAFLD (51.53 ± 19.68 vs 60.61 ± 20.25; p <0.05). These differences were seen despite no significant difference in age, diabetes duration, insulin dose, BMI, weight circumference, HbA1c, LDL-c, HDL-c, triglycerides, and interleukin-6 levels between the NAFLD and no NAFLD group.

CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with T2DM and NAFLD. Patients with T2DM and NAFLD have lower vitamin D level as compared to those with T2DM alone.