Does alfacalcidol prevent pancreatic beta cells from further destruction in children at the onset of diabetes mellitus type 1?

In recent years studies focused on prevention of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) and possibility of beta-cell protection at the clinical diagnosis of DM. Some recent studies have demonstrated beneficial role of vit. D3 analogue in human beta-cell activity maintenance at the early stages of DM. Material and methods: The study was performed in 63 children and adolescents (32 female and 31 male) aged 4–16 years who received insulin and vit D3 analogue (alfacalcidol –1alpha-OH-vitamin D3) in daily dose 0.25µg. 37 peers (17 female and 20 male) with type 1 DM who received only insulin therapy without vit. D3 administrat…