Lower Levels of Vitamin D Among Bangladeshi Immigrants with Diabetes in Greece Compared to Indigenous Greek Patients with Diabetes

In Vivo. 2015 Sep-Oct;29(5):541-5.

Abstract

Aim: Vitamin D deficiency is thought to impair insulin action and glucose metabolism; however, previous studies have not examined ethnic differences. We investigated a cohort of predominantly white Greek Caucasian and Bangladeshi immigrant patients with diabetes mellitus in order assess the association between diabetes mellitus and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)VitD].

Materials and methods: A total of 165 patients from Bangladesh and 118 patients from Greece with diabetes were assessed for diabetes and 25(OH)VitD status.

Results: The 25(OH)VitD levels of Bangladeshi patients were significantly lower compared to Greek patients (12.42±5.86 ng/ml vs. 23.06±12.36 ng/ml, p<0.001). Only 1.2% of Bangladeshi patients vs. 24.57% of Greek patients had sufficient levels of 25(OH)VitD (≥30 ng/ml)

Conclusion: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is very high amongst patients with diabetes but immigrants are at greater risk. Vitamin D supplementation could be valuable in the prevention or treatment of diabetes.

Keywords: Bangladeshi; Greek; Vitamin D; diabetes; ethnic minority.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age of Onset
  • Diabetes Mellitus / epidemiology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus / etiology*
  • Emigrants and Immigrants*
  • Female
  • Greece / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives
  • Vitamin D / blood*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / blood*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / epidemiology*

Substances

  • Vitamin D
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D