Abstract

Background Lower circulating vitamin D 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations are associated with higher type 2 diabetes risk in adults, although causality remains uncertain. However, associations between 25(OH)D and type 2 diabetes risk markers in children have been little studied, particularly in ethnic minority populations. We examined whether 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with insulin resistance in children and whether lower 25(OH)D concentrations in South Asians and black African Caribbeans could contribute to their higher insulin resistance. Methods Cross-sectional study of 4650 UK primary school children aged 9–10 years of predominantly South Asian, black African Caribbean and white European ethnicity. Children had fasting blood measurements of circulating 25(OH)D metabolite concentrations, insulin and glucose. Results Lower 25(OH)D concentrations were observed in girls, South Asians and black African Caribbeans. In analyses adjusted for age, sex, month, ethnic group and school, circulating 25(OH)D was inversely associated with fasting insulin (−0.38%, 95% CI −0.49% to −0.27%), homoeostasis model assessment (HOMA) insulin resistance (−0.39%, 95% CI −0.50% to −0.28%) and fasting glucose (−0.03%, 95% CI −0.05% to –0.02%) per nmol/L increase in 25(OH)D; associations did not differ between ethnic groups. Ethnic differences in fasting insulin and HOMA insulin resistance (higher among South Asian and black African Caribbeans) were reduced by >40% after adjustment for circulating 25(OH)D concentrations. Conclusion Circulating vitamin D was inversely associated with insulin resistance in all ethnic groups; higher insulin resistance in South Asian and black African children were partly explained by their lower vitamin D levels. Whether vitamin D supplementation can reduce emerging type 2 diabetes risk needs further evaluation.