SERUM 25-HYDROXYVITAMIN D-3 LEVELS DECREASED IN IMPAIRED GLUCOSE-TOLERANCE AND DIABETES-MELLITUS

A cross-sectional survey was carried out in a New Zealand Polynesian a nd Caucasian workforce of 5677 staff aged 40-64 years to determine whe ther serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D-3 are altered in peop le with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose toleran ce (IGT). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D-3 concentration was significantly lower in newly detected cases with diabetes and IGT (n = 238) compared with controls individually matched by sex, age (+/-2 years), ethnicit y, and date of interview (mean (S.D.): 69 (31) vs, 76 (34) nmol/l; P = 0.0016). Among controls, serum concentrations were significantly lowe r in Maori (mean (S.E.) = 65 (5) nmol/l; P = 0.0013) and Pacific Islan ders (59 (4) nmol/l; P = 0.0001) compared with Europeans (82 (3) nmol/ l), after adjusting for age, sex, and time of year. We conclude that d iabetes and IGT are associated with low serum concentrations of 25-hyd roxyvitamin D-3 and that low concentrations of this hormone in New Zea land Polynesians may partly explain their increased prevalence of diab etes/IGT compared with Europeans.