[Vitamin D concentration in type 1 diabetic children. Association with glycemic control, lipidic and bone metabolism].

INTRODUCTION: vitamin D plays a key role in regulating insulin secretion and its deficit seems to confer an increased risk of developing diabetes mellitus. In this study, we have tried to analyze the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in our type 1 diabetic children population and if their deficiency is related to a worse control of the disease, as well as with their bone and lipid metabolism.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: this is a retrospective study, in which both clinical and laboratory data were available for 124 children who were controlled in the Pediatric Diabetes Unit of our Hospital.

RESULTS: the median vitamin D concentration of the total sample was 25.41 (7.43) ng/ml, higher in males than in females (p = 0.006); 43.55 % of patients had good metabolic control with glycosylated hemoglobin lower than 7.5 %. Slightly lower glucose and cholesterol concentrations and higher bone alkaline phosphatase concentrations were found when vitamin D concentration was ≥ 20 ng/ml.

CONCLUSIONS: we have not found any significant differences in relation to metabolic control between children with sufficient and insufficient concentration of vitamin D. The children in the present study presented very similar vitamin D concentrations to those found in a study made in healthy children, and a good metabolic control of their diabetes, with bone and lipid profiles being more favorable when they had good metabolic control.