Vitamin D Status in Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Vitamin D Status in Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency is a problem with several health consequences worldwide. About 1 billion people are affected from Vitamin D deficiency. However, its prevalence is particularly high in the aged persons. The consequences of hypovitaminosis D are very serious such as osteomalacia, osteoporosis with risk of osteoporotic fractures, sarcopenia, increased cardiovascular accidents, increased blood pressure and alteration of the glycemic balance. Our study was conducted to evaluate the Vitamin D status and detect dietary deficiency on Vitamin D in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. Patients and methods: This prospective observational study was performed between October 2016 and December 2016 involving 38 type 2 diabetic patients hospitalized in the department A of Nutrition, Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases at the National Institute of Nutrition in Tunis. An interrogation, a complete physical examination, a food survey and biological samples were done for all the patients. Results: The mean age of the study population was 70.1 ± 4.5 years. The majority of the diabetic subjects studied (95%) had hypovitaminosis D with a proven deficiency of the 29% of the cases. None of the subjects recruited had a satisfactory dietary intake of vitamin D. The parameters for which the difference was statistically significant between subjects with hypovitaminosis D and subjects with recommended rates were: high blood pressure, osteo-articular manisfestations, fasting blood glucose and HbA1c. Correlation was observed only with serum calcium corrected with p=0.02 and r=+ 0.20. Conclusion: Although we live in a very sunny country in the whole year, Tunisia is among the countries that have a fairly high prevalence of hypovitamin D, especially in elderly people. Hence we need preventive measures and systematic supplementation for groups at risk such as elderly.