A high prevalence of prediabetes and vitamin D deficiency are more closely associated in women: results of a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: Many studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is associated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. However, few studies have shown independent associations between vitamin D deficiency and the metabolic characteristics of prediabetes. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum vitamin D concentration and metabolic risk factors in adults with prediabetes. METHODS: We enrolled 161 patients aged 25 to 75 years in a cross-sectional study and collected clinical and biochemical data, including 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) status and fasting glucose concentration. Vitamin D status was defined as follows: deficiency (25[OH]D <49.9 ng/mL), insufficiency (49.9 to 74.9 nmol/L) or sufficiency (>74.9 nmol/L). Prediabetes was defined using fasting plasma glucose concentrations of 5.55 to 6.49 mmol/L. RESULTS: The prevalences of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were 49.7% and 24.8%, respectively. Participants with vitamin D deficiency had a higher prevalence of prediabetes than those without (53.8% vs. 32.1%), and there was a significant relationship between female sex and vitamin D status (odds ratio: 1.382; 95% confidence interval: 0.335–5.693). CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency is more closely associated with a high prevalence of prediabetes in women than in men. Further studies are needed to elucidate the explanation for this association.