Abstract
The aim of the current study was to determine whether oral cholecalciferol (45000 IU) per week for the 2 months and once on the 3rd month could translate to full vitamin D status correction and improved metabolic profile among patients with suboptimal vitamin D status. A total of 248 Saudi patients with T2DM were screened for vitamin D deficiency. Two hundred out of the 248 patients had suboptimal vitamin D levels, and were randomly assigned to receive vitamin D oral supplementation (45000 IU/week for 2 months and a single 45000 IU in the last month) or placebo for 3 months. Anthropometrics and fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and after 3 months. Serum glucose, HBA1c and lipid profile were measured routinely and serum 25-OH vitamin D using ELISA. More than half of the subjects (59.8%) were vitamin D deficient at screening. Both groups had significant improvements in vitamin D levels after 3 months, with most of the treatment group achieving status correction. In the treatment group, a significant improvement in the diastolic blood pressure was observed after 3 months (P = 0.021), while the rest of the variables were comparable. Vitamin D supplementation of 45000 IU/week for 2 months and once on the 3rd month was able to improve vitamin D status among vitamin D deficient T2DM patients and marginally improve diastolic blood pressure.