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Effects of treatment with oral calcitriol on plasma glucose and insulin levels in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients
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MH Eftekhari *   , M Akbarzadeh , MH Dabbaghmanesh , J Hasanzadeh |
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Abstract: (15085 Views) |
| Background and Objective: Type-2 diabetes is a major metabolic disease with many signs and symptoms, such as hyperglycemia disorders in protein, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and partial or total insulin deficiency. It is accompanied with pancreatic beta-cell malfunction, reduced insulin sensitivity, and systemic inflammation. There is some evidence indicating a role of vitamin D in maintaining glucose tolerance and normal secretion of insulin. The objective of the present study was to assess the effects of calcitriol on the plasma insulin and glucose levels in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients.
Materials and Methods: Seventy subjects (35 males and 35 female) with type-2 diabetes, aged 30-75 years old, were divided into 2 groups – an intervention and a control group. The intervention and control groups received, daily for 12 weeks, two 0.25-mcg calcitrio-capsules (0.5 mcg calcitriol) and 2 placebo capsules, respectively. Fasting blood samples were taken at the beginning and at weeks 6 and 12 for measuring glucose, insulin, and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C).
Results: The fasting plasma glucose level did not change noticeably at weeks 0, 6 or 12 in the intervention group, while it increased significantly (p = 0.03) in the control group. The insulin level increased significantly in both the experimental (p = 0.002) and control (p = 0.0002) groups. Similarly, there were increases in the HbA1C concentration in the experimental (p = 0.013) and control (p = 0.0004) groups at week 12, as compared to baseline values. Also there was an increase in insulin resistance in both groups (p= 0.023 and 0.0001 for experimental and control groups, respectively). Finally, HOMA-%β, which is an indicator of the activity of the pancreatic beta-cells, remained unchanged in the controls, while it increased significantly in the experimental group (p = 0.009).
Conclusion: Calcitriol at a daily dose of 0.5 mcg has no lowering effect on blood glucose in type-2 diabetic patients, although it may prevent its elevation. The findings further show that calcitriol dose not bring about a reduction in insulin resistance however, it improves pancreatic beta-cell functioning, thereby increasing insulin secretion.
Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Calcitriol, Fasting glucose, Insulin resistance |
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| Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Calcitriol, Fasting glucose, Insulin resistance |
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Full-Text [PDF 218 kb]
(3062 Downloads)
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Article type: Research |
Subject:
nutrition
Received: 2011/09/3 | Published: 2011/09/15
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