1.
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.
2.
Vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor for thyroid cancer: A meta-analysis of case-control studies.
Zhao, J, Wang, H, Zhang, Z, Zhou, X, Yao, J, Zhang, R, Liao, L, Dong, J
Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.). 2019;:5-11
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The association between vitamin D deficiency and thyroid cancer is controversial. Some studies have demonstrated that higher serum vitamin D levels might protect against thyroid cancer, whereas others have not, or have even indicated the opposite to be the case. The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the association between vitamin D deficicency and thyroid cancer and propose that vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for thyroid cancer. METHODS This was a meta-analysis of 14 articles of the association between vitamin D deficiency and thyroid cancer. Databases including PubMed, Cochrane library, Sinomed, CNKI, Wanfang, and clinical trial register centers, were searched for case-control studies of vitamin D in thyroid cancer. RESULTS Fourteen studies were included in this meta-analysis. A fixed-effect model was used to merge the standardized mean difference value of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. The pooled effect showed that the levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D were lower in patients with thyroid cancer preoperatively than in the controls (-0.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.36 to -0.09; P = 0.001). There was no difference after thyroid cancer patients underwent thyroidectomy (-0.19; 95% CI, -0.47 to 0.10; P = 0.21). A fixed-effect model was used to pool the odds ratio of thyroid cancer and vitamin D deficiency. It showed that the pooled odds ratio from six studies was 1.30 (95% CI, 1.00-1.69; P = 0.05). Subgroup analysis of 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels between different pathologic characteristics in patients with thyroid cancer was summarized, but no statistical differences were determined. CONCLUSIONS Lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were associated with increased risk for thyroid cancer. On the other hand, vitamin D deficiency may act as a risk factor for thyroid cancer.