title: Effect of activated vitamin D on glucoparameters in HCV seropositive and seronegative patients on chronic hemodialysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many studies support the role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of both types of diabetes. Pancreatic tissues express the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and vitamin D-binding protein; some allelic variations in genes involved in vitamin D metabolism and VDR are associated with glucose intolerance, defective insulin secretion, and sensitivity. Epidemiological links have been established between type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the possible therapeutic potential of pharmacologic doses of 1-α-hydroxy vitamin D therapy in improving pancreatic β-cell function in HCV seropositive hemodialysis (HD) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty HCV seropositive HD patients and 20 HCV seronegative patients as control group were randomly selected from HD units. 1-α-Hydroxy vitamin D therapy was administrated in the dose ranged from 0.25 to 0.5 μg/day for 3 months. Corrected total serum calcium, phosphorus, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH) vitamin D], 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D, and glucoparameters [fasting blood glucose, glycohemoglobin test (HbA1c%), homeostatic model assessment (HOMA)-insulin resistance, and HOMA-β-cell function% (B%)] were measured under basal conditions and after 3 months of therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was highly significant improvement in the concentrations of fetal bovine serum (FBS), serum insulin, HbA1c%, 25(OH) vitamin D, and HOMA-β-cell function in HCV seropositive and HCV seronegative groups after oral 1-alphacalcidiol therapy (p < 0.001). Positive correlation exists between the percentage increase in serum insulin and that in HOMA-β-cell function versus 25(OH) vitamin D (p < 0.021 and p < 0.027, respectively) in HCV negative group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1-α-Hydroxy vitamin D oral therapy may improve glycemic control in HCV seropositive and HCV seronegative HD patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ain-Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sany
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: El Shahawy
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Awdallah
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D