Applied Chemical Engineering

The Role of Vitamin D Pathway Components in Determining Disease Severity and Cardiovascular Risk in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Precision Medicine Approach

Al-Karrar Kais Abdul Jaleel

Medical Laboratory Department, Kufa Institute, Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, Najaf 54001, Iraq

Haider Jabbar Shinjar

College of Medicine, University of Alkafeel

Haider Ali Alnaji

Medical Laboratory Department, Kufa Institute, Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, Najaf 54001, Iraq

Ali Abbas Abo Algon

Research Group of Organic Synthesis and Catalysis, University of Pannonia, Egyetem u. 10, 8200 Veszprém, Hungary

Abbas F. Almulla

Medical Laboratory Technology Department, College of Medical Technology, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/ace.v9i2.5931

Keywords: Atherogenicity; Cardiovascular; Diabetes Mellitus; Insulin resistance; Vitamin D.

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Abstract

Objectives: This study evaluates the vitamin D pathway and atherogenic markers in T2DM patients, develops composite indices to quantify disease severity and cardiovascular risk, and tests their predictive utility using precision modeling.

Material and Methods: Serum levels of vitamin D (Vit D), vitamin D receptor (VDR), binding protein, and lipid parameters were measured in 50 T2DM patients and 25 healthy controls. Atherogenic indices: AIP, Castelli Risk Index I (CAST-1), and Castelli Risk Index II (CAST-2) were calculated. Principal component analysis (PCA), multivariate regression, neural networks, and partial least squares (PLS) modeling were performed.

Results: Patients with T2DM exhibited significantly lower Vit D and VDR levels, higher cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, VLDL, and atherogenic indices, with lower HDL. Composite PCA scores confirmed increased disease severity and cardiovascular risk. Insulin resistance strongly predicted atherogenic indices, whereas Vit D levels predicted both disease severity and cardiovascular risk.

Conclusion: Vitamin D pathway disruption significantly correlates with insulin resistance, metabolic severity, and cardiovascular risk in T2DM, underscoring its potential as a personalized therapeutic target.

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