30JUN

Welcome To Mediterr J Med Res

Manuscripts are accepted for consideration with the understanding that they represent original material and are not being considered for publication elsewhere. The editors welcome the submission of relevant articles for editorial consideration. Manuscripts and all scientific and professional data should be addressed to Editor-in-Chief (abdulgbaj1@hotmail.com / Fmosherif@yahoo.com).

Mediterranean Journal of Medical Research
https://mrj.org.ly/article/doi/10.5281/zenodo.20091183

Mediterranean Journal of Medical Research

Original article Clinical Pharmacology

Therapeutic effect of vitamin D supplementation on glycemic control in female patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized controlled trial

Issa E.A. Amara, Ebtisam A. Benomran, Naeima A. Mohammed, Abdurrauf M. Gusbi

Downloads: 2
Views: 50

Abstract

This randomized controlled trial examined the relationship between therapeutic doses of vitamin D and improvement of glycemic parameters in female patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). 27 female patients with T2DM, aged 38-64 years, were randomly assigned to intervention (n=15) and control (n=12) groups at the endocrinology department of Tripoli Medical Center from 2015 to 2023. The intervention group received 50,000 IU vitamin D (cholecalciferol) weekly for 12 weeks, while controls received a placebo. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], fasting blood glucose (FBG), HbA1c, lipid profile, and calcium were measured before and after intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 with paired t-tests and correlation analyses. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Baseline vitamin D deficiency was prevalent: 47.0% of patients had severe deficiency, 41% moderate deficiency, and only 11.0% had sufficient levels. After 12 weeks of supplementation, 88% of patients demonstrated improved vitamin D levels. Mean serum 25(OH)D increased significantly from 12.50±12.40 nmol/L to 37.00±10.00 nmol/L (p<0.05). Approximately 80% of patients exhibited decreased HbA1c (from 9.20±1.80% to 7.90±1.70%; p<0.05). A significant inverse correlation was observed between post-intervention HbA1c and 25(OH)D levels (r = -0.354, p=0.040). Fasting blood glucose improved from 174.44±63.77 mg/dL to 144.51±38.90 mg/dL. No significant changes occurred in the control group. Weekly vitamin D supplementation (50,000 IU) for 12 weeks significantly improved vitamin D status and glycemic control in female patients with T2DM, demonstrating an inverse relationship between vitamin D and HbA1c levels. Vitamin D supplementation may be a beneficial adjunct therapy for glycemic management in vitamin D-deficient diabetic patients.

Keywords

HbA1c, glycemic control, cholecalciferol, Libya

References

  1. Mitri J, Muraru MD, Pittas AG. Vitamin D and type 2 diabetes: A systematic review. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2011; 65(9): 1005-1015. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2011.118
  2. Jeon CY, Lokken RP, Hu FB, van Dam RM. Physical activity of moderate intensity and risk of type 2 diabetes: A systematic review. Diabetes Care. 2007; 30(3): 744-752. doi:10.2337/dc06-1842
  3. Elmiladi SA. Presentation and character for adult patients with diabetes in Libya. Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2022; 2(1): 79-86. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.6399891
  4. Willi C, Bodenmann P, Ghali WA, Faris PD, Cornuz J. Active smoking and the risk of type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2007; 298(22): 2654-2664. doi: 10.1001/jama.298.22.2654
  5. Kelly A, Brooks LJ, Dougherty S, Carlow DC, Zemel BS. A cross-sectional study of vitamin D and insulin resistance in children. Archives of Disease in Childhood. 2011; 96(5): 447-452. doi: 10.1136/adc.2010.187591
  6. Walli RR, Derbal AA, Altabib MN. Body mass index and vitamin D in Libyan women. Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2024; 4(2): 64-68. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.12171291
  7. Rafi IK, Aktaruzzaman Md. Lifestyle and nutritional deficiencies associated with vegetarian diets. Mediterranean Journal of Medical Research. 2025; 2(2): 20-25. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.15336103
  8. Ahmed R, Uddin MM, Hoque M. Nutraceuticals: Food-based therapeutics and health benefits. Mediterranean Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences. 2025; 1(1): 22-30. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.15771921
  9. El-hemali JG, Sherif FM. Pre-diabetes and its associated risk factors in Libya: Future needs for public health care. Research and Reviews on Healthcare. 2018; 1(1): 1-2. doi: 10.32474/R10.32474/RRHOAJ.2018.01.000102
  10. Nasri H, Behradmanesh S, Maghsoudi AR, Ahmadi A, Nasri P, Rafieian-Kopaei M. Efficacy of supplementary vitamin D on improvement of glycemic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized double blind clinical trial. Journal of Renal Injury Prevention. 2014; 3(1): 31-34. doi: 10.12861/jrip.2014.10
  11. Palomer X, Gonzalez-Clemente JM, Blanco-Vaca F, Mauricio D: Role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism. 2008; 10: 185-197. doi: 10.1111/j.1463-1326.2007.00710.x
  12. Isaia G, Giorgino R, Adami S. High prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in female type 2 diabetic population. Diabetes Care. 2001; 24(8): 1496. doi: 10.2337/diacare.24.8.1496
  13. Baynes KC, Boucher BJ, Feskens EJ, Kromhout D: Vitamin D, glucose tolerance and insulinaemia in elderly men. Diabetologia. 1997; 40(3): 344-347. doi: 10.1007/s001250050685
  14. Pietschmann P, Schernthaner G, Woloszczuk W: Serum osteocalcin levels in diabetes mellitus: Analysis of the type of diabetes and microvascular complications. Diabetologia. 1988; 319120: 892-895. doi: 10.1007/BF00265373
  15. Chun RF, Peercy BE, Orwoll ES, Nielson CM, Adams JS, Hewison M. Vitamin D and DBP: The free hormone hypothesis revisited. The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 2014; 144: 132-137. doi: 10.1016 /j.jsbmb.2013.09.012
  16. Talaei A, Mohamadi M, Adgi Z. The effect of vitamin D on insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetology and Metabolic Syndrome. 2013; 5(1): 8. doi: 10.1186/1758-5996-5-8
  17. Elhussein AB, Babikr WG, Alsayed MI, Fadlelseed OE. The association between vitamin D level and glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients in the Najran Area, Saudi Arabia. Zagazig University Medical Journal. 2021; 27(1): 132-139. doi: 10.21608/zumj.2020.26422.1782
  18. American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes-2010. Diabetes Care. 2010; 33(Suppl 1): S3-S62. doi: 10.2337/dc10-S011
  19. Pittas G, Lau J, Hu FB, Dawson-Hughes B. The role of vitamin D and calcium in type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2007; 92(6): 2017-2029. doi: 10.1210/jc.2007-0298
  20. Maestro B, Campi´on J, D´avila N, Calle C. Stimulation by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 of insulin receptor expression and insulin responsiveness for glucose transport in U-937 human promonocytic cells. Endocrine Journal. 2000; 47(4): 383-391. doi: 10.1507/endocrj.47.383
  21. Cheng Q, Li YC, Boucher BJ, Leung PS. A novel role for vitamin D: Modulation of expression and function of the local renin-angiotensin system in mouse pancreatic islets. Diabetologia. 2011; 54: 2077-2081. doi: 10.1007/s00125-011-2100-1
  22. Maestro B, Molero S, Bajo S. Transcriptional activation of the human insulin receptor gene by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3). Cell Biochemistry and Function. 2002; 20(3): 227-232. doi: 10.1002/cbf.951
  23. Kumar K, Bordoloi T, Narang S, Kotru M, Singh A. Effect of vitamin D supplementation on glycemic control in newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized controlled trial. Cureus. 2024; 16(9): e70224. doi: 10.7759/ cureus.70224
  24. Akhter A, Alouffi S, Shahab U, Akasha R, Fazal-Ur-Rehman M, Ghoniem ME, et al. Vitamin D supplementation modulates glycated hemoglobin in diabetes mellitus: A systematic review. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics. 2024; 753: 109911. doi: 10.1016/j.abb.2024.109911
  25. Elhadi AA, Ahmed AA. Correlation of vitamin D with glycemic control and body mass index in patients with type II diabetes mellitus. Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2022; 2(1): 28-36. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.6399450
  26. Ahmed AA, Alapid AA, Ahmed ZM, Moudah NJ, Salim HM. Correlational study of vitamin D deficiency and dyslipidemia among the adult Libyan population. Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2025; 5(2): 96-103. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.15381077
  27. Laflof KBA. Vitamin D, calcium, and hematological levels in healthy Libyan subjects. Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2025; 5(3): 94-100. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.17210995
  28. Zhang XJ, Wang HF, Gao X, Zhao Y. Effects of oral vitamin D supplementation on glycemic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Biomedical and Environmental Sciences. 2025; 38(6): 716-726. doi: 10.3967/bes2025.066
  29. Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2007; 357(3): 266-281. doi: 10.1056/ NEJMra070553
  30. Cohen-Lahav M, Douvdevani A, Chaimovitz C, Shany S: The antiinflammatory activity of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 in macrophages. The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 2007; 103(3-5): 558-562. doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2006.12.093
  31. Gamag EA, Albakoush AM, Rashed MJ, Kassab BA, Albasha SA. Glycosylated hemoglobin in type 2 diabetic patients as a biomarker for predicting dyslipidemia. Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2024; 4(4): 1-5. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.13993737

Submitted date:
03/20/2026

Reviewed date:
04/28/2026

Accepted date:
05/05/2026

Publication date:
05/04/2026

69f891b8a9539554cf07e653 mjpe Articles
Links & Downloads

Mediterr J Med Res

Share this page
Page Sections