Background: Cardiovascular mortality is high among diabetic patients due to abnormalities in the plasma lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, and increased oxidative stress. This study aimed to investigate the effects of active vitamin D on serum lipids and oxidative stress markers in type 2 diabetic patients.
Methods: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial was carried out in 70 participants with type 2 diabetes, aged 30-75 years of age. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups. One group received two capsules of calcitriol (0.25 µg 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol per capsule) per day. The second group received placebo tablets. All participants received their oral hypoglycemic drugs as prescribed by the endocrinologist. At the beginning, after 6 weeks, and at the end of the 12-week supplementation trial, serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride (TG), and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured.
Results: There was a significant reduction in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, TG, and MDA levels in both treatment and placebo groups (P < 0.05). Serum HDL-cholesterol level decreased significantly in the placebo group (P < 0.05), while it remained unchanged in the treatment group. However, the P values related to the between group's comparisons were not significant for any variables.
Conclusion: Active vitamin D reduced lipid profile and oxidative stress markers in diabetic patients compared to the control group, but these alterations were not statistically significant.
Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus; Lipoproteins; Oxidative Stress; Vitamin D.