title: The role of vitamin D in the metabolic homeostasis of diabetic bone.
abstract: Most studies across a variety of geographic locations suggest that vitamin D insufficiency is more common in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) compared to the general population. In type 2 diabetes (T2D), while obesity is commonplace and lower vitamin D levels are present in obese adolescents and adults, the association between vitamin D insufficiency and T2D is less clear. Studies suggest that the relationship between T2D and vitamin D may be concurrently influenced by ethnicity, geography, BMI and age. None-the-less, diabetic osteopathy is a significant co-morbidity of both forms of diabetes, and is characterized by micro-architectural changes that decrease bone quality leading to an increased risk for bone fracture in both disorders. The question remains, however, to what degree vitamin D homeostasis contributes to or exacerbates skeletal pathology in diabetes. Proposed mechanisms for vitamin D deficiency in diabetes include: 1) genetic predisposition (T1D); 2) increased BMI (T2D); 3) concurrent albuminuria (T1D or T2D); or 4) exaggerated renal excretion of vitamin D metabolites or vitamin D binding protein (T1D, T2D, animal models). The specific effects of vitamin D treatment on diabetic osteoporosis have been examined in rodents, and demonstrate skeletal improvements even in the face of untreated diabetes. However, human clinical trial data examining whether vitamin D status can be directly related to or is predictive of bone quality and fracture risk in those with diabetes is still needed. Herein, we provide a review of the literature linking vitamin D, diabetes and skeletal health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR.
authors.forename: Kathryn M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Thrailkill
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Fowlkes
keywords: diabetic fracture; diabetic osteoporosis; type 1 diabetes; type 2 diabetes; vitamin D binding protein; vitamin D receptor