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Lower 25-(OH)D levels associated with microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes
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Circulating serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are inversely and independently related to the prevalence of microvascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes.
However, causality cannot be determined, according to the researchers.
Giacomo Zoppini, MD, PhD, of the University of Verona in Italy, and colleagues evaluated 715 adults (mean age, 68 years) attending the clinic at the University of Verona with type 2 diabetes to investigate any link between circulating 25-(OH)D levels and the presence of microvascular complications.
Researchers evaluated participants for the presence of retinopathy and nephropathy by clinical evaluation, fundus examination, urine examination and biochemical tests; 25-(OH) levels were also measured.
Seventy-five percent of participants had low vitamin D (serum 25-[OH]D level < 30 ng/mL), and 36.6% had vitamin D deficiency (serum 25-[OH]D level < 20 ng/mL). Greater frequencies of diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy were found among participants with low vitamin D. An inverse relationship was found between the severity of diabetic retinopathy and serum 25-(OH)D levels. Significantly lower age-adjusted levels of serum 25-(OH)D were found among participants with nephropathy compared with those without nephropathy.
A reduced risk for prevalent microvascular complications was independently associated with higher serum 25-(OH)D levels (OR = 0.758; 95% CI, 0.607-0.947).
“Whether vitamin D supplementation in people with type 2 diabetes may exert any beneficial effects on the development and progression of these microvascular complications is still a matter of intense debate,” the researchers wrote. – by Amber Cox
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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