Does vitamin D deficiency increase the risk of thyroid disease in people with type 2 diabetes?

This study investigated the link between vitamin D deficiency and thyroid diseases in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). It was found that vitamin D deficiency is associated with a higher risk of thyroid diseases in these patients.

Diabetes and thyroid diseases are the two most common hormonal disorders. The thyroid produces hormones that speed up metabolism. Thyroid diseases can occur when the thyroid produces too much or too little of these hormones.

Research indicates that people with T2D are more likely to have a thyroid disease than people without T2D. Some research has suggested that vitamin D deficiency may be linked to thyroid diseases in people with diabetes. However, this link is still under investigation.

546 adults with T2D participated in this study. They were compared to 546 similar people without T2D. Some of the participants also had a thyroid disease. Blood samples were collected to measure vitamin D levels, thyroid hormones, and other chemicals in the blood. The participants also answered questionnaires about their health and lifestyle.

Participants with T2D were more likely to be obese, to be physically inactive, to smoke, and to have a family history of thyroid diseases. Participants with T2D had lower vitamin D levels and higher levels of thyroid hormones than those without T2D. Participants who had T2D and a thyroid disease had lower vitamin D levels than those who did not have a thyroid disease. Participants with T2D who were vitamin D deficient were 3.34 times more likely to have a thyroid disease than those who had enough vitamin D.

The study concluded that low vitamin D is associated with an increased risk of thyroid disease in people with T2D.

This study did not distinguish between different types of thyroid disease, which may have affected the results. The study did not investigate whether low vitamin D caused thyroid disease, if thyroid disease caused low vitamin D, or if low vitamin D and thyroid disease were caused by another factor.

If you have any concerns about vitamin D and thyroid disease, please consult with your doctor.