Efficacy of Vitamin D Therapy on Glucose Homeostasis in Obese Adolescents

Participation will involve 3 visits (6 weeks apart) to the Clinical and Translational
Science Institute (CTSI), which should happen 2-3 weeks after you have consented to
participate in this study. The total duration of the study and the time you/your child will
spend in the CTSI will be 2.5 hours for each visit.

Number of adolescents/children will enroll in this study:20.

Visit 1 A doctor will perform a complete physical examination. The child will have his/her
weight and height measured .Blood pressure and vital signs will check each visit.

Of the 2 hours spent in the hospital, 1/2 hour is allocated to getting measurements, weight,
and vitals and putting in an intravenous line and drawing fasting labs. The oral glucose
tolerance test will take about 2 hours. To test for insulin sensitivity (Risk marker of
Diabetes), oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) will be done. OGTT is used to diagnose
Diabetes and Pre Diabetes. The child will first have blood samples drawn, and then will
drink oral glucose soda. Blood samples will be obtained over 2 hours. A total of 5-7
teaspoons, which is 25-35 cc of blood will be taken during this test. Of this 15 cc will be
drawn during the OGTT. A doctor or nurse will be monitoring the child throughout the test.
If he/she develops low blood sugar, they will be treated appropriately with glucose.

Blood samples obtained at the start of the OGTT will be used to measure various markers of
insulin sensitivity, vitamin D level and marker of bone health as vitamin D deficiency can
causebone loss. This blood will be stored in the CTSI core laboratory in the CTSI for
duration of this study. The blood samples will be stored without child's name or any other
identifying information on them. The samples will be destroyed once the study is completed.

After the OGTT done, your child will receive a one time high dose of vitamin D (group A) or
placebo (capsule containing no medication) (Group B). This way of treating of low vitamin D
levels with one time high dose of vitamin D is safe and has been studied in adolescents.

The child has 50/50 chance to be in either group. Neither he/she nor you will know if he/she
is getting Vit D or placebo. At week 7, your child needs to return to CTSI for 2nd study for
physical check-up, blood test and urine test using the same method as the 1st visit. The
urine testing will be done to test for urinary calcium as this could be a sign of vitamin D
toxicity.

After the 2nd study done, your child will be reassigned to alternate treatment group and
will receive either vitamin D or placebo. That means that if he/she was getting a placebo at
the first visit then he/she will get a real Vit D this time. If he/she was getting vit D at
the first visit, he/she will get a placebo at this visit.

At week 12 after completion of the 2nd course of medication, you and your child will have to
come back for the final blood and urine study using the same method as the first and 2nd
study.

At this your child will have an oral glucose tolerance test, blood and urine tests. The
urine testing will be done to test for urinary calcium as this could be a sign of vitamin D
toxicity. If your child has high urine calcium he/she will not be allowed to participate in
the study We guarantee that your child will receive the treatment for lack of vitamin D
either the first half or latter half of the study. However, you will not know what
medication your child will receive during the entire study. We will set an appointment to
see us in 2weeks at the Endocrine clinic; however, it will be not part of the study. We will
go over the results of the study at that time and will see if any further treatment with
Vitamin D is required for your adolescent.

You and your child will have to come back to CTSI at the end of week 12 for post-therapy
study. After a minimum 10-hour fast, participants will come to the CTSI, during which your
child will have his/her weight and height measured. Blood Pressure will be measured. Post
vitamin D therapy OGTT. Vitamin D level and markers for bone health will again be measured
using same method as day 1. Urine will be collected for urinary calcium level, using same
method as day 1.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Obese subjects - BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and
sex. Only obese subjects will be selected given that they are the highest risk group
of developing insulin resistance and Type II Diabetes and therefore with be most
likely to demonstrate glucose pertubation.

2. Pubertal: Testicular volume ≥ 6 ml Prader (M) and Tanner III breast development or
greater (F)

3. 12- 18 years regardless of gender, race or economic circumstance

4. Pre diabetes/high risk of diabetes using criteria of HbA1C between 5.7 - 6.4% as
defined by the American Diabetes Association (ADA)

5. 25-OH vitamin D level less than 20 ng/ml (50 nmol/liter)

6. Subjects must be willing to comply with study protocol requirements

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Treatment on medication known to effect vitamin D, calcium and glucose metabolism,
such as glucocorticoids, thiazolidinediones, metformin, anticonvulsants metabolized
through cytochrome P-450 (phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, sodium valproate).

2. Subjects will be excluded from the study if they have taken any form of vitamin D
supplementation greater than 400 IU daily in the preceding 3 months.

3. Significant major organ system illness

4. History of nephrolithiasis or hypercalcemia

5. Females who are pregnant

6. Significant psychiatric illness: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, active substance
abuse, and uncontrolled major depression.

7. Attendance at tanning salon