Associations between concentrations of vitamin D and concentrations of insulin, glucose, and HbA1c among adolescents in the United States.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to examine the associations between concentrations of vitamin D and concentrations of insulin, glucose, and HbA(1c) in a nationally representative sample of adolescents in the U.S.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We used data for 1,941 adolescents, aged 12-17 years, who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2001 and 2006.

RESULTS

Adjusted concentrations of insulin were ~24% lower among male subjects with a concentration of vitamin D ≥ 75 nmol/L than among male subjects with a concentration of vitamin D <50 nmol/L (P = 0.003). Concentrations of vitamin D were inversely associated with concentrations of glucose only among Mexican American male subjects (P = 0.007). No significant associations between concentrations of vitamin D and HbA(1c) were detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results support an inverse association between concentrations of vitamin D and insulin primarily in adolescent male subjects.