25-Hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and diabetic foot ulcer: Is there any relationship?
Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2013 Jul-Sep;7(3):148-53. doi: 10.1016/j.dsx.2013.06.008. Epub 2013 Jul 20.
Zubair M, Malik A, Meerza D, Ahmad J.
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, J.N. Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India; Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, J.N. Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India. Electronic address: mohammad_zubair at yahoo.co.in.
AIMS: In recent years, there has been an effort to understand possible roles of 25(OH)D, including its role in the immune system particularly on T cell medicated immunity, pancreatic insulin secretion and insulin action. 25(OH)D stimulates the cell differentiation and reduces cell proliferation, which is essential for cell growth and wound healing. However, data on the association between low level of plasma 25(OH)D and diabetic foot syndrome are scarce.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Circulating plasma levels of 25(OH)D were measured in diabetic patients with ulcer (n=162) and without ulcer (n=162) in a prospective cohort hospital based study.
RESULTS: Of these patients, 85.1% had type 2 diabetes.
Subjects with diabetic foot ulcer showed lower median plasma level of 25(OH)D [6.3(4.2-11.1) vs 28.0(21.4-37.0)] ng/ml after adjusting the age and BMI.
Regardless of the low levels of 25(OH)D in cases and controls, it was associated with neuropathy, sex (female), duration of ulcer healing, and smoking status and independent of confounding factors, including BMI (kg/m(2)), A1c (%), hypertension, nephropathy, foot ulcer, retinopathy, CAD, PAD, HDL-C (mg/dl) and LDL-C (mg/dl).
The factors which predict the risk of developing ulcer independent of 25(OH)D status were
- A1c (>6.9%) [OR 4.37; RR 1.77],
- HDL-C (<40mg/dl) [OR 1.16; RR 1.07],
- LDL-C (>100mg/dl) [OR 1.07; RR 1.03],
- triglycerides (>200mg/dl) [OR 1.40; RR 1.19],
- neuropathy [OR 6.88; RR 3.12],
- retinopathy [OR 3.34; RR 1.91],
- hypertension [OR 1.64; RR 1.28],
- nephropathy [OR 3.12; RR 1.87] and
- smoking [OR 4.53; RR 2.99]
using odds and risk ratios.
CONCLUSION: It is not clear whether the suppression of delayed wound healing seen during 25(OH)D deficiency is due to the secondary effect or is a direct action of vitamin D on certain components of the immune system. Long-term randomized trials are needed to see the impact of vitamin D supplementation on the outcome of diabetic foot patients.
Copyright © 2013 Diabetes India. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
PMID: 23953180
Summary by Vitamin D Life: Diabetic foot ulcer 6.3 ng, controls 28 ng
See also Vitamin D Life
- Overview Diabetes and vitamin D
- Vitamin D and diabetic neuropathy.pdf - file (it is in Vitamin D Life, but no hyperlink, sorry
Because foot ulcers could lead to a reduction in exposure to sunlight and thereby a reduction in vitamin D levels, we excluded participants who had one or more foot lesions upon examination. - Venous ulcers healed 4X faster with weekly 50000 IU vitamin D – RCT Oct 2012
- Diabetic Nephropathy – active vitamin D helps – Dec 2014