BACKGROUND: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is recognized as a useful indicator for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. However, studies on the association between vitamin D status and EAT thickness in type 2 diabetes (T2D) are limited. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association of vitamin D (Calcifediol) status and EAT thickness (EATT) in Chinese non-obese patients with T2D.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed among 167 non-obese T2D Chinese patients and 82 non-diabetic patients, who are age- and gender-matched during the winter months. EATT was evaluated by two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D, Calcifediol] was examined in the diabetic patients and in the control group.

RESULTS: The concentration of 25(OH)D was 32.00 nmol/l (19.30–53.70 nmol/l) among diabetic patients. Most (93.4%) of the diabetic patients had hypovitaminosis D. We confirmed a clear negative association between 25(OH)D level and EATT in non-obese T2D patients (p=0.01). EATT was significantly correlated with 25(OH)D level (p=0.001) and HOMA-IR (p=0.001). Results of multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated increased EATT, which was remarkably associated with 25(OH)D levels (p=0.039), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p=0.013), HOMA-IR (p=0.030), and waist circumference (p<0.001) in T2D patients after adjusting for the confounding factors.

CONCLUSIONS: Increased EATT was found in Chinese T2D patients with normal BMI. 25(OH)D and HOMA-IR were independently associated with increased EATT after adjusting for multiple confounders.

Keywords: Adipose Tissue, Calcifediol, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2