Vitamin D deficiency linked to painful diabetic neuropathy, finds study

The sample population went through a complete assessment of neurologic deficits, quantitative sensory testing (QST), electrophysiology, skin biopsy, corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) and measurement of serum 25(OH) D.Values below 20 ng/mL and 30 ng/mL was regarded as Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency respectively.

Results revealed that serum 25(OH) D levels were significantly lower in PDN (24.0 ± 14.1 ng/mL) compared with DPN (34.6 ± 15.0 ng/mL, P = .01) and controls (34.1 ± 8.6 ng/mL, P = .03). There was a 10-fold increased risk for painful diabetic neuropathy (odds ratio [OR], 9.8; 95% CI, 2.2-76.4; P=.003) in Vitamin D deficient patients (<20 ng/mL). It was also noted that Vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) was associated with more than a 4-fold increased risk to PDN (OR, 4.4; 95 CI, 1.1-19.8; P=.03).

According to the authors, the major strength of this study was a fully matched and detailed phenotyping of the diabetic patients with and without painful neuropathy .Certain limitations like the small sample size, lack of quantification of sunlight exposure or daily activity and comparison with a non‐neuropathic diabetic cohort were also acknowledged.

The researchers further quoted that a well‐constructed clinical trial of vitamin D in painful diabetic neuropathy is required to assess the effectiveness of a potentially simple treatment with no obvious side effects.

Source Reference :https://doi.org/10.1002/dmrr.3361