Abstract
Objective: To ascertain the outcome of vitamin D3
supplementation on blood sugar fasting (BSF) of
individuals with pre-diabetes and co-existing
hypovitaminosis D3.
Methodology: This quasi experimental study was
carried out in the Department of Pharmacology and
Therapeutics, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi
from January to December 2019. Non-probability
convenience sampling was done, and 140 individuals
with pre-diabetes (BSF: 5.7 – 6.9 mmol/L) and coexisting hypovitaminosis D3 (< 50 nmol/L) were
included in the study. Age wasbetween 21 to 60 years
of either gender. They were randomly selected to
receive 200,000 IU of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3
n = 70) or placebo (n = 70), in one dose at the
commencement of study, and after one month. The
outcome between BSF and vitamin D3 were
comparedand analysed after 12 weeks by SPSS
version 23.
Results: The median of blood sugar fasting in the
vitamin D3 group decreased from 5.4 to 5.1 and the
interquartile range (IQR) decreased from 5.7 – 5.1 to
5.6 – 5.0 versus placebo (p = 0.001). Thus, there was a
significant reduction in BSF in Vit. D3 group versus
placebo.
Conclusion: Vitamin D3 supplementation in
individuals with pre-diabetes and co-existing
hypovitaminosis D3 resulted in decrease in BSF and
thus lowered the risk of progression to type 2 diabetes
mellitus.
Key words: Cholecalciferol, hypovitaminosis,
placebo, pre-diabetes, supplementation.
