RELATIONSHIP OF VITAMIN D LEVELS WITH DAIRY INTAKE, AND SUN EXPOSURE IN DIABETIC PATIENTS

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency has been shown to alter insulin synthesis and secretion with additional biological roles to the well-known effects, it has on calcium homeostasis. The mechanism of action of Vitamin D in diabetes is thought to be mediated not only through the regulation of plasma calcium levels, which regulate insulin synthesis and secretion but also through a direct action on pancreatic beta-cell function. Therefore, owing to its increasing relevance, this study has focused on the relationship between vitamin D, milk intake, and sun exposure in well-defined diabetes patients along with controls. : Th Method is study was conducted for one year on five hundred adult diabetes and control cases who participated in the interview and medical examination. The relationship between diabetes, milk intake, and sun exposure with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels was evaluated using regression analysis in the presence of demographic and clinical covariates, such as age, education, employment, and persistent hyperglycemia. The mean Results: age ranges between 51.52±7.70 and 52.24±7.90 in DM and control groups respectively with male preponderance seen in both groups. The number of patients consuming milk was almost the same (24.11±3.12) and sun exposure for less than 1 hour was 68% which was similar in both DM and controls. It was observed that several males (72%) were more in the control group were consuming milk >250ml/day as compared to DM patients. Sun exposures between 1-3 hours were also similar in both groups. Mean serum 25 (OH) D levels in diabetic cases (24±9.82 nmol/L) are significantly lower than controls (41.14±9.82nmol/L) (p<0.0001). Serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly low in different age groups of DM male and female patients (p<0.001) while no difference was observed in control male and female age groups. There is a specific Conclusions: relationship between Vitamin D deficiency and DM. But many other lifestyle factors are well known to cause diabetes which may also cause Vitamin D deficiency.