DNA Damage and Vitamin D Status among Type 2 Diabetic Patients
BC21-BC24
Correspondence
Dhia J Altimimi,
College of Medicine, University of Duhok, Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.
E-mail: altmimidj@yahoo.com
Introduction: DNA damage has been associated with the progression of diabetes and deficiency of vitamin D that leads to increase DNA damage. The possible modulation of this damage by vitamin D supplementation is not well reported in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients.
Aim: To assess the extent of DNA damage in T2DM patients and to ascertain its association with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels.
Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at Duhok Diabetes Center, Duhok, Kurdistan Region (Iraq). This study consisted of 2 inter-related parts: the first part was a cross-sectional study conducted on patients with type 2 diabetes (n=204) and healthy individuals (n=154). The second part was a quasi-interventional study that enrolled 25 patients with type 2 diabetes and 19 healthy individuals. The demographic parameters including age, gender and BMI was recorded and DNA damage marker through serum 8-Hydroxy Guanosine (8-OHdG) levels, and Vitamin D status of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D {25(OH) D} was measured. Descriptive statistics were adapted to present data in means±SD. Independent t-test and un-paired student t-test were used to assess differences in serum analyte among groups for continuous data. Categorical data was assessed by using q-square test for association between two groups, and one-way ANOVA test for association among more than two groups. Level of statistical significance (p-value) was set at <0.05.
Results: In the study population, 52 (25%) T2DM patients and 12 (7.8%) healthy individuals had vitamin D deficiency {25(OH)D<10 ng/mL}. The mean serum 8-OHdG levels were significantly elevated in diabetic patients as compared to healthy individuals, (p<0.01). Based on the 8-OHd G cut-off point (<4.0 ng/mL), 178 (84.8%) of T2DM patients had DNA damage as compared to 44 (28.5%) healthy individuals. In the diabetic group, 8-OHdG inversely correlated with 25(OH)D (r=-0.22, p=0.01), after 3 months of vitamin D supplementation, with 47.7% increased 25(OH)D levels (p=<0.01); the mean values for 8-OHdG levels decreased by 13.7% (p=0.13). In the healthy individuals, 57.3% showed increased 25 (OH)D levels (p=<0.01); the mean values of 8-OHdG are decreased by 2.6% (p=0.36).
Conclusion: The high prevalence of DNA damage observed in the studied population, particularly type 2 diabetic patients appear to be associated with vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency. Vitamin D supplementation may be an effective public heath intervention to reduce DNA damage and prevent acquired genetic disease.