Evaluation of plasma vitamin D levels in patients with chronic giardiasis referring to the laboratory of educational hospitals of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences and the probable risk of type 2 diabetes in these cases

Giardiasis is a parasitic disease induced by Giardia lamblia that leads to malabsorption of vitamin D and deficiency of this vitamin increase the probability of type 2 diabetes. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of chronic Giardiasis on the status of vitamin D and the risk of type2 diabetes in patients.
Material and In this case-control study, 60patients were referred to the laboratories of educational hospitals of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. After confirmation of giardia parasite infection by direct and blood sampling from patients. Then Plasma sample was isolated and the amount of vitamin D, glucose, insulin, lipid factors, liver enzymes, Insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), beta-cell function index (HOMA-β), insulin sensitivity index (QUICKI) were assessed. Plasma levels of vitamin D in patients with giardiasis were significantly lower than healthy subjects (P <0.05). Although insulin did not increase in these patients, glucose (P <0.001) and HOMA-IR (P <0.05) increased in these patients. Also, HOMA-β, QUICKI, and DI in patients with giardiasis decreased versus to control group (P <0.05). The values of AST (P <0.001), ALT (P <0.01) and ALP (P <0.05) enzymes were significantly higher in patients with giardiasis. In general, the results of this study indicate that chronic giardiasis leads to a decrease in vitamin D levels and an increase in variables related to type2 diabetes. It was also found that there is a direct relationship between chronic giardiasis, decreased vitamin D, and increased liver enzymes.