TITLE:
Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients presenting to a functional medicine clinic
AUTHORS:
Paul A. Oakley, Stephanie J. Chaney, Michael A. Persinger, Thomas A. Chaney
KEYWORDS:
Diabetes Mellitus; BMI; Vitamin D; Deficiency; Insufficiency; Functional Medicine
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering,
Vol.6 No.5A,
May
22,
2013
ABSTRACT:
This
study explores the relationship of 25-hydroxylvitamin D blood levels in 106
randomly selected patient files with diagnosed type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
(t2DM) who enrolled in a functional medicine diabetes reversal program from a
chiropractic clinic located in Annapolis, Maryland, USA. Using a conservative
recommendation for normal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration of 32 ng/ml,
insufficiency level of 20 - 30 ng/ml, and deficiency level et al. (2011) determined the optimal concentration
of serum 25OHD to be 40 ng/ml in order to optimize insulin sensitivity. In
our sample 100/ 106 (94%) had vitamin D levels at or below this optimal
cut-off level. BMI was negatively correlated with vitamin D; that is, the
greater the BMI of the patient the less their vitamin D level. Both obesity and
hypovitaminosis D are each mutually exclusive predictors for t2DM. Obesity
and vitamin D deficiency may work synergistically to propel an individual into
the diseased state of t2DM. As this study demonstrates that the majority of people
with t2DM suffer from inadequate amounts of vitamin D, vitamin D testing should
be routine for all people at risk for t2DM, prediabetics and those currently
suffering with t2DM in order to elevate levels sufficiently to improve insulin
sensitivity and improve long-term outcomes.