The relationship between vitamin D deficiency and diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Objective To study the association of vitamin D deficiency with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods A total of 200 type 2 diabetic patients and 100 healthy normal people were included in this study. Patients with type 2 diabetes were divided into DPN group(n=109)and non-DPN group(NDPN group, n=91). ELISA was used to measure the level of 25(OH) D3, and conventional methods were used to determine the functions of liver and renal, glycosylated hemoglobin, blood lipid, serum calcium, phosphorus, beta 2 microglobulin, urinary microalbumin and other indicators. Correlation analysis between 25(OH)3 and other indicators were performed. Results Compared with normal control group, levels of 25(OH)D3 in NDPN group and DPN group were lower, especially in DPN group (F=202.265, P<0.01). Moreover, the percentage of vitamin D deficiency in DPN group(76.1%) was much higher than that of NDPN group (47.3%, χ2=17.763, P<0.001). Level of vuitamin D was negatively related to DPN, diabetic duration, age, gender, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, 24 h urinary microalbumin, beta 2 microglobulin(r=-0.315 to-0.144, all P<0.05), and positively related to blood calcium (r=0.193, P=0.006). Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that vitamin D deficiency was an independent risk factor for DPN (OR=3.564, 95%CI: 1.950-6.511, P<0.001). Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency is an independent risk factor for DPN, and may play a role in the occurrence and development of type 2 diabetes and DPN. Key words: Type 2 diabetes mellitus; Vitamin D deficiency; Peripheral neuropathy