RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Besides its role in calcium homeostasis, vitamin D (VD) has an important immuno-mudulation effect. However, its role in autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes is under discussion. This study designed to investigate serum VD status in children and adolescents with and without diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a case-control study, 85 diabetic and 85 non-diabetic control (total 170) aged 1-15 yr. were enrolled. History of breast feeding and vitamin supplementation was obtained; growth indices and serum levels of Calcium, phosphorous, Alkaline-Phosphatase (ALP), Hemoglobin-A1c and VD were measured and analyzed. RESULTS: The mean values for VD in case and control groups were 12.80⯱â¯10.59 and 15.85⯱â¯9.92â¯nmol/L, respectively (pâ¯=â¯0.057). Serum VD status in these two groups was sufficient in 5.88% and 9.41%, insufficient in 18% and 14%, and deficient in 75.29% and 76.74%, respectively. Compared to the controls, diabetics had more history of breast-feeding (62.35% vs. 42.35%; pâ¯=â¯0.017) and higher serum ALP levels (772.34⯱â¯309.89 vs. 657.99⯱â¯395.11â¯U/L; pâ¯=â¯0.032). CONCLUSION: More frequency of breast-feeding, higher serum ALP and mildly lower serum level of VD in diabetics suggests a significant difference in VD status in diabetics compared to the healthy peers indicating a potential role of this deficiency in the disease process.