Hyperglycemia in black veterans is associated with low vitamin D – Nov 2012

Relationship Between Hbaic and Circulating 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentration in African American and Caucasian American Men.

Endocr Pract. 2012 Nov 27:1-22.
Manickam B, Neagu V, Kukreja S, Barengolts E.
Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Jesse Brown VA and Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois Medical Centers, Chicago, IL 60612.

Objectives: To examine whether (1) serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level [25(OH)D] is a risk factor for hyperglycemia, as assessed by HbA1c, in African American men (AAM) and (2) 25(OH)D is a predictor of HbA1c in AAM and Caucasian American men (CAM).

Methods: We prospectively assessed 25(OH)D and HbA1c in 1,074 men, outpatients with and without diabetes at an urban Veteran Administration Medical Center (66.8% AAM, 26.4% CAM, 6% Hispanic, 0.4% Asian and 0.4% Native American men). Multivariate regression analyzed the determinants of HbA1c after accounting for potential confounders.

Results: We found high prevalence of low (< 30 ng/ml) 25(OH)D (81%) and elevated (≥ 5.7%) HbA1c (53.5%). The 25(OH)D was inversely associated with HbA1c in all men (r = -0.12, p<0.001), in AAM (r = -0.11, p=0.003), and in CAM (r=-0.15, p=0.01). In the entire group the independent determinants of HbA1c included BMI, age, 25(OH)D, systolic BP, triglycerides, HDL, and current alcohol use (p<0.0001, 0.013, 0.009, 0.01, 0.008, 0.034, 0.048, respectively) while GFR and marital status showed borderline significance (p=0.08 and 0.09, respectively).

In AAM these determinants included

• BMI,
• 25(OH)D,
• systolic BP, and
• current alcohol use

(p <0.0001, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, respectively), while age had borderline significance (p=0.06); in CAM these included BMI, age, and triglycerides (p=0.01, 0.03, 0.004, respectively) but not 25(OH)D (p=0.5).

Conclusion: Circulating low 25(OH)D is a risk factor for hyperglycemia, as assessed by HbA1c, in AAM.
The 25(OH)D is an independent determinant of HbA1c in AAM but not in CAM population including men with and without diabetes.

PMID: 23186960

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See also Vitamin D Life

• Overview Diabetes and vitamin D
• All items in Diabetes and Vitamin D 454 items
• Vitamin D prescriptions in US Military increased 5X in 5 years – July 2015
• Hyperglycemia 2.5X more likely when vitamin D less than 10 ng – Oct 2011