Vitamin D affects insulin sensitivity and β-cell function in obese non-diabetic youths

• Published in: European journal of endocrinology Vol. 181; no. 4; pp. 439 - 450
• Main Authors: Corica, Domenico, Zusi, Chiara, Olivieri, Francesca, Marigliano, Marco, Piona, Claudia, Fornari, Elena, Morandi, Anita, Corradi, Massimiliano, Miraglia del Giudice, Emanuele, Gatti, Davide, Rossini, Maurizio, Bonadonna, Riccardo C, Maffeis, Claudio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Bioscientifica Ltd 01.10.2019; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D; Adolescent; B-Lymphocytes - physiology; Beta cells; Body weight; Child; Children; Chronic illnesses; Clinical Study; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Female; Glucose; Glucose metabolism; Glucose tolerance; Homeostasis; Humans; Insulin; Insulin Resistance - physiology; Male; Mathematical models; Obesity; Overweight; Pediatric Obesity - blood; Pediatric Obesity - epidemiology; Pediatric Obesity - genetics; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide - genetics; Puberty; Single-nucleotide polymorphism; Vitamin D; Vitamin D - blood; Vitamin D Deficiency - blood; Vitamin D Deficiency - epidemiology; Vitamin D Deficiency - genetics; Vitamin D-binding protein; Vitamin deficiency
• ISSN: 0804-4643; 1479-683X; 1479-683X
• DOI: 10.1530/EJE-19-0369

Objective Vitamin D may potentially play a central role in glucose homeostasis and β-cell function (BCF), although studies are not consistent. Aim of our study was to test the hypotheses of a direct relationship between vitamin D, insulin sensitivity (IS) and BCF in overweight and obese non-diabetic children. Design and methods Cross-sectional study carried out at the Childhood Obesity Outpatient Clinic, University Hospital of Verona. One hundred twenty-two Caucasian overweight and obese children (age: 12.8 ± 0.2 years) were enrolled. Exclusion criteria: genetic or endocrine causes of obesity, chronic diseases or therapies. Patients underwent oral glucose tolerance test. HOMA-IR, Matsuda index and insulinogenic index were calculated. BCF was reconstructed by mathematical modeling and described by Derivative and Proportional Control. Total 25-hydroxyvitamin D and vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP) were measured. Two SNPs (rs4588 and rs7041) in the VDBP gene were studied, and bioavailable vitamin D (BVD) was calculated. Results Hypovitaminosis D was documented in 90% of patients. Forty-seven subjects were homozygous for both SNPs. Total vitamin D was positively correlated with Matsuda index (P = 0.002), VDBP (P = 0.045), and negatively with BMI SDS (P = 0.043), HOMA-IR (P = 0.008), HOMA-B (P = 0.001), IGI (P = 0.007), derivative control (P = 0.036) and proportional control (P = 0.018). Total vitamin D, adjusted for age, gender, BMI SDS, puberty and seasonality of vitamin D measurement, was a predictor of Matsuda index, HOMA-IR, HOMA-B, IGI, proportional control (all P < 0.05). BVD was positively correlated with total vitamin D (P < 0.001) and negatively with BMI SDS (P = 0.041). Conclusions Hypovitaminosis D negatively influences BCF and IS, suggesting that vitamin D levels might be implicated in glucose metabolism impairment in overweight and obese individuals.