Reduced 25(OH) Vitamin D Association with Lower Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Blood Levels in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Reduced circulating levels of 25(OH)VD are associated with an increased incidence of chronic lung diseases. Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) is needed to maintain healthy lung function. This study examined the hypothesis that circulating levels of AAT are lower in adult type 2 diabetic patients and that a positive association exists between circulating AAT levels and 25(OH)VD levels in these patients. Fasting blood was obtained after written informed consent from type 2 diabetic patients (n = 80) and normal siblings or volunteers (n = 22) attending clinics at LSUHSC according to the protocol approved by the Institutional Review Board for Human studies. Plasma AAT and 25(OH)VD levels were determined using ELISA kits. HbA levels and chemistry profiles were analyzed at the clinical laboratory of LSUHSC hospital. ATT and 25(OH)VD levels were significantly lower in type 2 diabetic patients compared with those of age-matched healthy controls. There was a significant positive correlation between 25(OH)VD and ATT deficiency. AAT levels showed significant positive correlation with HDL cholesterol levels in type 2 diabetic patients. There was no correlation between AAT levels and those of HbA or with the duration of diabetes of T2D patients. These results suggest that 25(OH)VD deficiency may predispose type 2 diabetic patients to AAT deficiency. Whether reduced levels of circulating AAT indeed contribute to the increased risk for lung dysfunction in subjects with type 2 diabetes needs further investigation.