Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and chronic inflammation. The activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is a key contributor to the inflammatory processes associated with T2DM, which can exacerbate disease progression. This study aims to evaluate the effects of vitamin D3 supplementation on oxidative stress markers and NLRP3 gene expression in patients with T2DM. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients with T2DM, exhibiting HbA1c levels greater than 6.5% and serum 25(OH) vitamin D3 levels below 30 ng/mL, were enrolled in this randomized controlled trial. Participants were assigned to either a vitamin D3 group (n = 34), receiving 50,000 IU/week for 8 weeks, or a placebo group (n = 34). Serum levels of oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde [MDA], total antioxidant capacity [TAC], and thiol levels) and NLRP3 gene expression were assessed at baseline and after the intervention. RESULTS: The vitamin D3 group demonstrated a significant increase in serum 25(OH) vitamin D3 levels compared to the placebo group (p < 0.001). However, no significant changes were observed in oxidative stress markers (MDA, TAC, and thiol levels) between the groups. Importantly, NLRP3 gene expression was significantly reduced in the vitamin D3 group compared to the placebo group (p < 0.02). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that vitamin D3 supplementation may effectively reduce inflammation in T2DM patients by lowering NLRP3 expression. This supports the potential role of vitamin D3 as an adjunctive therapy for managing inflammation and oxidative stress in individuals with T2DM.