Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D(2) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) levels are independently associated with macroalbuminuria, but not with retinopathy and macrovascular disease in type 1 diabetes: the EURODIAB prospective complications study

BACKGROUND: Low circulating levels of total vitamin D [25(OH)D] and 25(OH)D(3) have been associated with vascular complications in few studies on individuals with type 1 diabetes. However, these measures are affected by UV light exposure. Circulating 25(OH)D(2), however, solely represents dietary intake of vitamin D(2), but its association with complications of diabetes is currently unknown. We investigated the associations between 25(OH)D(2) and 25(OH)D(3) and the prevalence of albuminuria, retinopathy and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in individuals with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: We measured circulating 25(OH)D(2) and 25(OH)D(3) in 532 individuals (40 ± 10 years old, 51 % men) with type 1 diabetes who participated in the EURODIAB Prospective Complications Study. Cross-sectional associations of 25(OH)D(2) and 25(OH)D(3) with albuminuria, retinopathy and CVD were assessed with multiple logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, season, BMI, smoking, HbA(1c), total-HDL-cholesterol-ratio, systolic blood pressure, antihypertensive medication, eGFR, physical activity, alcohol intake, albuminuria, retinopathy and CVD, as appropriate. RESULTS: Fully adjusted models revealed that 1 nmol/L higher 25(OH)D(2) and 10 nmol/L higher 25(OH)D(3) were associated with lower prevalence of macroalbuminuria with ORs (95 % CI) of 0.56 (0.43;0.74) and 0.82 (0.72;0.94), respectively. These vitamin D species were not independently associated with microalbuminuria, non-proliferative and proliferative retinopathy or CVD. CONCLUSIONS: In individuals with type 1 diabetes, both higher 25(OH)D(2) and 25(OH)D(3) are associated with a lower prevalence of macroalbuminuria, but not of retinopathy and CVD. Prospective studies are needed to further examine the associations between 25(OH)D(2) and 25(OH)D(3) and the development of microvascular complications and CVD in type 1 diabetes. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12933-015-0231-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.