Abstract

Introduction: To assess the effect of vitamin D and calcium supplement on HbA1c and blood pressure in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 48 patients with type 2 diabetes visiting the Diabetes Clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Zabol in Southeast of Iran from March to August 2016. They were divided into three groups, one of which received vitamin D supplement and routine treatments (A). The second group received vitamin D and calcium supplement and routine treatments (B). The third group received placebos and routine treatments (C). For a month, they were orally treated with 50000 units of vitamin D supplement and 150-250 milligrams of calcium on a daily basis. The HbA1c level and blood pressure were recorded before and after the intervention. Results: Blood pressure decreased after the intervention in the first and second groups; however, no significant decrease was observed in the third group (p=0.001) The HbA1c levels decreased by 1.76 and 1.85 in the first and second groups, respectively. An intragroup comparison, drawn after the intervention, indicated that HbA1c decreased in patients (28.08 -/+ 2 to 20.50 -/+ 2, p=0.122). Conclusion: Vitamin D and calcium supplements can decrease blood pressure and HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes.