Research Article

Protective effects of 1-α-hydroxyvitamin D3 on residual β-cell function in patients with adult-onset latent autoimmune diabetes (LADA)

  1. Xia Li1,†,
  2. Lan Liao1,2,†,
  3. Xiang Yan1,
  4. Gan Huang1,
  5. Jian Lin1,
  6. Minxiang Lei2,
  7. Xiangbing Wang3,
  8. Zhiguang Zhou1,*

Article first published online: 1 JUN 2009

DOI: 10.1002/dmrr.977

Issue

Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews

Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews

Volume 25, Issue 5, pages 411–416, July 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Li, X., Liao, L., Yan, X., Huang, G., Lin, J., Lei, M., Wang, X. and Zhou, Z. (2009), Protective effects of 1-α-hydroxyvitamin D3 on residual β-cell function in patients with adult-onset latent autoimmune diabetes (LADA). Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews, 25: 411–416. doi: 10.1002/dmrr.977

Author Information

  1. 1

    Diabetes Center, Institute of Metabolism and Endocrinology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China

  2. 2

    Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China

  3. 3

    Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, RWJUH-UMDNJ, New Brunswick, USA

  1. †

    Xia Li and Lan Liao contributed equally to this work.

*Diabetes Center, Institute of Metabolism and Endocrinology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 29 JUN 2009
  2. Article first published online: 1 JUN 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 23 APR 2009
  4. Manuscript Revised: 27 MAR 2009
  5. Manuscript Received: 22 OCT 2008

Funded by

  • National Natural Science Foundation of China. Grant Number: 30600298
  • Hunan Natural Science Foundation. Grant Numbers: 06JJ20086, 08JJ4007
  • National 973. Grant Number: 2006CB503901

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Keywords:

  • latent autoimmune diabetes in adults;
  • vitamin D;
  • β-cell function;
  • insulin;
  • intervention

Abstract

Background

Previous in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that vitamin D could prevent pancreatic β-cell destruction and reduce the incidence of autoimmune diabetes. In children with type 1 diabetes, vitamin D treatment produces moderate protective effects on residual β-cell function and has proven to be safe. Therefore, we hypothesized that vitamin D might have protective effects on β-cell function in patients with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA), a form of slowly progressive autoimmune type 1 diabetes.

Methods

Thirty-five patients with LADA were randomly assigned to receive subcutaneous insulin alone (n = 18) or insulin plus 1-α-hydroxyvitamin D3 (1-α(OH)D3; 0.5 µg per day) (n = 17) for 1 year. Plasma C-peptide levels in fasting state (FCP) and 2 h after 75-g glucose load (PCP) were measured every 6 months with radioimmunoassay.

Results

Both FCP and PCP levels stayed steady in the insulin plus 1-α(OH)D3 group, while FCP decreased in insulin-alone group (P = 0.006) during the 12-month intervention. Seventy percent of patients treated with 1-α(OH)D3 maintained or increased their FCP concentrations after 1 year of treatment, while only 22% of patients treated with insulin alone maintained stable FCP levels (P < 0.01). Further analysis on LADA subgroups with different durations of diabetes demonstrated that islet β-cell function was better preserved (as reflected by significantly higher FCP and PCP levels) in the 1-α(OH)D3 plus insulin group only in patients with diabetes duration no longer than 1 year. No severe side effects were observed in any group.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that 1-alpha(OH)D3 plus insulin therapy can preserve pancreatic β-cell function in patients with LADA. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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