AIMS

We aimed to assess whether vitamin D supplementation improves glucose metabolism in adults with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

PubMed and Cochrane database were searched up to July 1st 2016 for randomized controlled trials that assessed the relationship between vitamin D supplementation and glucose metabolism (change in hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) and fasting blood glucose (FBG)) among adults with type 2 diabetes.

RESULTS

Twenty nine trials (3324 participants) were included in the systematic review. Among 22 studies included in the meta-analysis, 19 reported HbA1C, 16 reported FBG outcomes and 15 were deemed poor quality. There was a modest reduction in HbA1C (-0.32% [-0.53 to -0.10], I=91.9%) compared to placebo after vitamin D supplementation but no effect on FBG (-2.33mg/dl [-6.62 to 1.95], I=59.2%). In studies achieving repletion of vitamin D deficiency (n=7), there were greater mean reductions in HbA1C (-0.45%, [-1.09 to 0.20]) and FBG (-7.64mg/dl [-16.25 to 0.97]) although not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a modest reduction of HbA1C after vitamin D treatment in adults with type 2 diabetes albeit with substantial heterogeneity between studies and no difference in FBG. Larger studies are needed to further evaluate the glycemic effects of vitamin D treatment especially in patients with vitamin D deficiency.