Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Both hypovitaminosis D and Type 2 DM are prevalent health problems among Saudi population. Ethnic and gender differences in the association between vitamin D status and type 2 DM were reported. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine vitamin D status in Saudi diabetic women as compared to that of age and BMI matched healthy women. Methods: A total of 120 women, 60 diabetic and 60 age and BMI matched control, were enrolled for this study. Fasting blood samples were collected from all participants and serum was stored at -80ºC until assayed. 25- hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was measured using chemiluminescent immunoassay. Results: Hypovitaminosis D was prevalent among both diabetic and control groups. However, mean 25(OH)D level was lower in the diabetic group (30.45nmol/L) as compared to the control group (34.36nnmol/L) although not statistically significant. Vitamin D deficiency (defined as 25(OH)D level < 25 nmol/L) was more common among the diabetic group, but this did not reach statistical significance (P= 0.708). Conclusion: Although the diabetic women had lower levels of 25(OH)D, vitamin D deficiency was prevalent in both groups. Larger longitudinal studies are required to reveal any relation between hypovitaminosis D and type 2 DM among Saudi subjects.
