24 Impact of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on insulin sensitivity parameters: a pilot study in a population of obese and prepubescent North-African children

• Published in: BMJ paediatrics open Vol. 8; no. Suppl 4; pp. A8 - A9
• Main Authors: Jaballah, Nesrine, Gaddas, Meriem, Kebaili, Raoudha, Latiri, Imed, Kacem, Ilhem
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 27.05.2024; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Delegates’ Abstracts; Diabetes; Insulin resistance; Obesity; Pediatrics; Research Projects; Vitamin D; Vitamin deficiency
• ISSN: 2399-9772
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2024-ASPED.24

BackgroundObesity has a strong influence on T2D in children and adolescents, by increasing the insulin resistance and damaging β-cell function. A growing number of studies suggest a link between vitamin D and type 2 diabetesAim of StudyThis study aimed to determine the impact of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on pancreatic β-cells function in terms of insulin secretion and sensitivity.MethodsThis was a quasi-experimental study involving 30 obese and prepubescent Tunisian children (57% boys). During three months, the children received calcium and vitamin D supplementation at therapeutic doses. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed at the beginning and at the end of the study. The following metabolic definitions were applied: i) hyperinsulinism: insulinemia sum > 300 μ UI/ml during OGTT, ii) insulin-resistance: homeostatic model assessment of insulin- resistance > 2, iii) normal glycaemic profile: normal plasma levels during OGTT without any spike, and iv) pancreatic β-cells dysfunction reversibility: disappearance of the aforementioned disordersResultsThe means ± standard-deviation of age and body mass index were 10.87 ± 1.9 years, and 30.17 ± 4.99 kg/m2, respectively. As risk factors, we identified a family type 2 diabetes in all cases, and family obesity in 48.57%. All the children had hypovitaminosis D, with insufficiency in 77.1% cases and deficiency in 22.9%.Moreover, all of them were at the stage of hyperinsulinism associated with insulin-resistance. These disturbances were noted even in children having a normal glycaemic profile at OGTT. After calcium and vitamin D supplementation, glycaemic profile as well as insulin-secretion improved significantly (p < 0.0001). Hyperinsulinism and insulin-resistance decreased significantly by 56.67% (p < 0.0001) and 70.00% (p < 0.0001), respectively. Complete reversibility of these two disorders was noted in 26.6% of childrenConclusion(s)To conclude, in obese and prepubescent children, vitamin D and calcium supplementation led to the reversibility of the pancreatic β-cells dysfunction.