The relationship between vitamin D status and islet function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between vitamin D status and islet function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: The participants were recruited from Hebei General Hospital. Basic characteristics and blood indicators were collected after fasting overnight. The data were analyzed statistically using SPSS 22.0. Analysis of variance, a nonparametric test, or a trend Chi-square test was used for the comparisons. The association between 25-hydroxy vitamin D and modified homeostasis model assessment-β was assessed using multivariate ordinal logistic regression. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-four patients aged 26 to 79 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus were included in this study. Patients with vitamin D deficiency had a lower modified homeostasis model assessment-β level compared with those without vitamin D deficiency. There were differences in body mass index, diabetes course, glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting blood glucose, fasting blood C-peptide, triglyceride, and 25-hydroxy vitamin D among different modified homeostasis model assessment-β groups based upon the tertiles. 25-hydroxy vitamin D, as continuous or categorical variables, was positively related to modified homeostasis model assessment-β whether or not cofounding factors were adjusted. CONCLUSION: There is an association between increased 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels and improvement in modified homeostasis model assessment-β function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Cross-sectional trails ChiCTR2000029391, Registration Date: 29/01/2020. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12902-021-00862-y.