Abstract:
ackground. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and menopause are associated with vitamin D status. Oestrogen decline during
menopausal stages promotes hypovitaminosis D. However, the interplay between vitamin D, menopause, lifestyle, and T2DM
cannot be overlooked. This study assessed vitamin D status among pre- and postmenopausal T2DM women and determined its
association with glycemic control and influence of lifestyle habits on hypovitaminosis D. Methods. This cross-sectional study was
conducted at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana. Structured questionnaires were administered to 192 T2DM
women; blood samples were collected for estimation of 25(OH) D and insulin using ELISA. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid
profile, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), and calcium were measured. Statistical analyses were performed using Graphpad Prism 6.
Results. The prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy was 92.2%. Hypovitaminosis D was more prevalent among the postmenopausal
T2DM women (63.8% versus 58.2%). Hypovitaminosis D significantly associated with insulin [𝑅2 = 0.01760, 𝑝 = 0.0008], HbA1c
[𝑅2 = 0.3709, 𝑝 =< 0.0001], and FBG [𝑅2 = 0.3465, 𝑝 = 0.0001] in only the postmenopausal women. Conclusion. Vitamin D
deficiency is prevalent in pre- and postmenopausal T2DM but higher among postmenopausal women. Adequate vitamin D levels
in both groups were associated with improved glucose control while hypovitaminosis D in the postmenopausal women was related
to poorer glucose control. Vitamin D screening should be incorporated into management plan for T2DM to serve as an early tool
for prevention of vitamin D deficiency.
