0
0
A recent study suggests a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and an increased susceptibility to diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in older adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). DPN is a common complication of diabetes that causes nerve damage, leading to pain, numbness, and weakness in the hands and feet.
The study, conducted by researchers at Beijing Hospital, involved 230 older patients who had been living with T2D for about 15 years. Of these patients, 175 were diagnosed with DPN, while the remaining 55 did not have DPN. The researchers found that 169 patients had vitamin D deficiency, which was defined as having serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels below 20 ng/mL.
The researchers assessed nerve damage using two methods: electromyography for large nerve fibers and skin conductance measurements for small nerve fibers. Their results showed that patients with vitamin D deficiency were more likely to have DPN, particularly damage to large nerve fibers. This was evidenced by longer nerve conduction times in the vitamin D-deficient group compared to the vitamin D-sufficient group.
The study also found a link between vitamin D deficiency and large fiber neuropathy, with an increased likelihood of prolonged motor nerve latency. However, there was no significant difference in skin conductance measurements between patients with and without vitamin D deficiency, suggesting that vitamin D deficiency may not have a significant impact on small nerve fiber damage.
It is important to note that this was a cross-sectional study, which means it can only identify associations between variables, not cause-and-effect relationships. Therefore, more research is needed to determine whether vitamin D supplementation can help prevent or treat DPN in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Overall, this study suggests a potential link between vitamin D deficiency and nerve damage in older adults with type 2 diabetes. However, more research is warranted to confirm these findings and explore the potential benefits of vitamin D supplementation for DPN prevention or treatment.
