Calcium Phosphate Product Is Associated with Subclinical Carotid Atherosclerosis in Type 2 Diabetes

Aims. To assess whether circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD) and mineral metabolism-related factors (serum phosphate, calcium, and parathormone) are associated with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis (SCA), defined as the presence of carotid atherosclerotic plaques (main study outcome), in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) without kidney disease or previous cardiovascular disease. Methods. We undertook a post hoc analysis of a cross-sectional study in adults with T2DM in whom we evaluated SCA. A total of 303 subjects with T2DM were included. Clinical variables and carotid ultrasound imaging were obtained. Results. We found no association of 25OHD with the presence of SCA. However, calcium phosphate (CaP; mg(2)/dL(2)) product was positively associated with the presence of carotid plaques (ORadj = 1.078; 95% CI: 1.017-1.142). An inverse association was observed between higher levels of 25OHD (>= 30 ng/mL versus < 20 ng/mL concentrations) and common carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT; mm) (beta(adj) +/- SE = -0.055 +/- 0.024). We conclude that the CaP product is independently associated with the presence of established subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in patients with T2DM.