1.
Association between serum vitamin D levels and venous thromboembolism (VTE): A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.
Wan, J, Yuan, J, Li, X, Bao, Y, Hou, Y, Li, Z, Tan, SC, Low, TY, Chu, Y
Complementary therapies in medicine. 2020;:102579
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although many studies have attempted to unravel the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the incidence of VTE, the results remained inconsistent. To address this discrepancy, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to precisely disentangle the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and VTE risk. METHODS The Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Google Scholar databases were searched for all available observational studies that reported the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) based on serum vitamin D levels categories. The search was performed up to March 2020. RESULTS Seven studies were included. The overall analysis showed a significantly increased risk of VTE in subjects with low levels of serum vitamin D compared with those with normal vitamin D levels (RR = 1.34; 95% CI: 1.07-1.69; P = 0.011). In a sensitivity analysis, we did not observe a significant effect of any individual study on the combined effect sizes. Nevertheless, significant heterogeneity was present among the studies (Cochrane Q test, p = 0.018, I2 = 61%). In the stratified analysis, low vitamin D levels were positively associated with an increased risk of VTE in prospective population-based studies (RR = 1.31; 95% CI: 1.06-1.61; P = 0.010) and in subjects below 60 years old (RR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.07-1.54; P = 0.060). CONCLUSION our systematic review and meta-analysis showed that a low serum vitamin D level was indeed associated with an increased risk of VTE.
2.
Adding vitamin D3 to the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor saxagliptin has the potential to protect β-cell function in LADA patients: A 1-year pilot study.
Zhang, Z, Yan, X, Wu, C, Pei, X, Li, X, Wang, X, Niu, X, Jiang, H, Zeng, X, Zhou, Z
Diabetes/metabolism research and reviews. 2020;(5):e3298
Abstract
AIMS: This trial was conducted to explore the protective effect on β-cell function of adding vitamin D3 to DPP-4 inhibitors to treat patients with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). METHODS 60 LADA patients were randomized to group A (n = 21) - conventional therapy with metformin (1-1.7 g/day) and/or insulin treatment; group B (n = 20) - saxagliptin (5 mg/day) plus conventional therapy; and group C (n = 19) - vitamin D3 (2000 IU/day) plus saxagliptin and conventional therapy for 12 months. Fasting and 2-hour postprandial blood samples were collected to measure blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and C-peptide levels at baseline and after 3, 6 and 12 months of treatment. RESULTS During the 12 months of follow-up, the levels of fasting C-peptide (FCP), 2-hour postprandial C-peptide (PCP) and the C-peptide index (CPI, serum C-peptide-to-plasma glucose level ratio) were maintained in group C. In contrast to those in group A and group B, FCP levels decreased significantly in group B, and CPI levels declined significantly in group A during the 1-year treatment (P < .05). Additionally, the levels of GADA titers in group C significantly decreased compared with those at baseline (P < .05), but no significant differences in GADA titers levels were detected in group A and group B. No significant differences were found among the three groups in the levels of FCP, PCP, the CPI or GADA titers. CONCLUSIONS The data suggested that adding 2000 IU/day vitamin D3 to saxagliptin might preserve β-cell function in patients with LADA.