Background: Vitamin D3 has the potential to modulate both endocrine and immune system. Evidence increased on non-classical role of vitamin D (Vit. D) in many autoimmune diseases. Vitamin D deficiency is considered as a global health problem and has been suggested -based on animal studies- to be associated with prevalence of glucose intolerance.
Aim: To investigate the effect of vitamin D deficiency on blood glucose level and microscopic structure of pancreas of albino rat.
Material and Methods: Thirty adult male Wistar albino rats were used in the current study and were divided into two groups. Group I (Control) was fed vit. D balanced diet and exposed to sun light, and Group II was fed vit. D deficient diet and deprived from sun light exposure. Group II was further subdivided into subgroup (IIa) which was sacrificed after 1 month, and subgroup (1Ib) which was sacrificed after 2 months. Pancreata were collected from all rats of all groups and were prepared for histopathological examination. Morphometric measurements were done using image analyzer and blood glucose level was measured and all data were statistically analyzed.
Results: Subgroup IIa showed fewer and smaller islets of Langerhans compared with those of the control group, while Subgroup IIb showed disfigurement of the islets, with marked decrease in their number and size. Highly significant increase in blood glucose level was detected in rats of subgroup IIb compared to the control group.
Conclusion: There is an inverse correlation between serum vitamin D and insulin resistance. Persistent vitamin D deficiency status may lead to metabolic disorders including insulin resistance and raised blood glucose.