Association between Neck Circumference and Vitamin D amongst Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Nigeria

Background: Neck circumference and vitamin D have been linked with risk of development of chronic disorders especially those with cardiovascular implications, including type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to examine the relationship between neck circumference and vitamin D among persons with type 2 diabetes. Method: The design of the research work was comparative cross-sectional, which included a total of 180 persons, comprising 120 patients with type 2 diabetes and 60 healthy controls. Neck circumference of subjects with type 2 diabetesand controls was measured, alongside determination of vitaminD levels for both categories of individuals. Data obtained was analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 22. Results: The mean neck circumference of subjects with type 2 diabetes compared with controls showed no statistical difference (34.30 ± 3.09 cm vs 34.81 ± 2.61 cm; p>0.05). Neck circumference of male subjects with type 2 diabeteswas higher than their female counterparts and thiswas statistically significant (37.46±2.97 cm vs 33.05±2.09 cm; p=0.01). The mean serum vitamin D of the subjects with type 2 diabetes was significantly lower than the controls (35.84 ± 11.65ng/ml vs 44.71 ± 20.12ng/ml; p< 0.001). However, there was no correlation between neck circumference and vitamin D amongst individuals with diabetes (rho= -0.07; p=0.46). Conclusion: Neck circumference was not associated with vitamin D among subjects with type 2 diabetes in this study population. Furtherlocal and intercontinental studies may be required to fully elucidateon the existence of relationship between neck circumference and vitamin D amongst individuals with diabetes mellitus.