Abstract Background: In the context of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), Vitamin D deficiency has garnered increasing attention due to its proposed involvement in insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity, sarcopenia, defined as age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, is another major health concern in the aging population, often leading to frailty, disability, and increased morbidity. Methods: A retrospective observational case–control study was conducted at Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Pune, including 180 participants (90 T2DM cases and 90 age- and gender-matched controls), aged ≥60 years. Vitamin D3 levels, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), body mass index, and sarcopenia (assessed by the SARC-F questionnaire) were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 21. Descriptive and inferential statistics ( t -tests, Chi-square test, and Pearson’s correlation) were applied. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: This retrospective study in elderly individuals with and without T2DM highlights a high prevalence of Vitamin D3 deficiency across both groups. A strong negative correlation was observed between Vitamin D3 levels and HbA1c, indicating that lower Vitamin D3 levels are associated with poorer glycemic control. While sarcopenia was more common among diabetics, its association with Vitamin D3 and HbA1c did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: The study highlights the high prevalence of Vitamin D3 deficiency in elderly T2DM patients and its strong negative correlation with glycemic control. Although no significant association was found with sarcopenia, the findings support Vitamin D3 screening in elderly diabetics and call for longitudinal studies to explore causality and therapeutic potential.
Devadkar et al. (Mon,) studied this question.