Serum vitamin D receptor levels in gestational diabetes mellitus

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Background Vitamin D affects glucose metabolism by increasing insulin secretion and insulin receptor expression. Also, it exerts these effects by binding to its primary receptor, the vitamin D receptor (VDR). In this preliminary study, we aimed to examine serum 25-(OH) vitamin D 3 and serum VDR levels in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) patients. Methods Blood samples were obtained during 24–28 weeks of pregnancy from patients with GDM (n=30) and age, body mass index (BMI), and gestational age-matched control subjects (n=33). Both groups were examined for changes in the levels of glucose, insulin, glycated hemoglobin (bA 1c ), 25-(OH) vitamin D 3 and VDR. Results There were no significant differences in serum 25-(OH) vitamin D 3 and fasting insulin levels between the control and GDM groups (p=0.115, p=0.182). But serum VDR levels were significantly higher in the GDM group than in the control group (p=0.001). Conclusions Although there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding 25-(OH) vitamin D 3 levels, it is notable that VDR levels were higher in GDM patients. To further define the role of vitamin D in the prophylaxis and treatment of GDM, it may be useful to conduct more extensive studies on VDR.