Objectives:: This study evaluates the effect of vitamin D with calcium supplementation on glycemic control and quality of life (QoL) in patients with diabetes.
Materials and Methods:: A prospective, observational, open-label randomized, controlled study was conducted on 150 type-2 patients with diabetes. A total number of patients were divided into three groups (n= 50 in each group) i.e. group 1 (patient on oral hypoglycemic agents), group 2 (oral hypoglycemic agents with vitamin D 60.000 IU/week), and group 3 (oral hypoglycemic agents, vitamin D 60.000 IU/week along with daily calcium of 1.000 mg/day). Biochemical estimation of fasting/random blood glucose (RBG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), serum insulin and patient’s QoL were analyzed using modified diabetes QoL (MDQoL)-17 questionnaire after 12 weeks of treatment. Data were analyzed using a student t-test (paired t-test).
Results:: The majority of the patients were male (more than 50%) with an average age of 50 ± 6 years having a diabetic history of more than 10 years and HbA1c level >10% in all three groups. After 12 weeks supplementation, the mean value of vitamin D was 25.73 ± 6.2 ng/mL, 29.98 ± 5.3 ng/mL and 62.71 ± 7.8* ng/mL in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (p<0.05) compared to baseline. A change in the mean value of HbA1c, in group 2 (14.64 ± 3.48 to 13.99 ± 3.16%) and group 3 (14.05 ± 2.65 to 12.04 ± 2.21%) was also seen at the end of the study. Moreover, patients showed a positive effect of vitamin D with calcium in group 3 with increased MDQoL, 30% of patients were in more than 70 score range.
Conclusion:: The result of the study indicates that vitamin D supplementation with calcium significantly controlled or reduced HbA1c; fasting and RBG levels moreover improve QoL in type-2 patients with diabetes. It suggests that this combination can be considered a therapeutic supplement along with a primarily used anti-diabetic regimen.
Keywords: Diabetes mellitus type-2; calcium; glycemic control; quality of life; vitamin D.