Low vitamin D is associated with diabetes peripheral neuropathy in older but not in young and middle-aged patients

Abstract

Background: The relationship between vitamin D and diabetes peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is not consistent among epidemiologic studies. Thus, we aimed to investigate this relationship in different age groups. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 1461 patients admitted to the Department of Endocrinology at Xinhua Hospital from June 2016 to September 2017 were divided into three age groups: a Youth group (24-44 years, n = 127), a Middle-age group (45-64 years, n = 779), and an Elderly group (≥65 years, n = 555). Basic information and laboratory results were collected from medical records. Results: Among the patients, 32.72% had DPN, with 12.59% in the Youth group, 33.63% in the Middle-age group, and 36.04% in the Elderly group. For the total sample and the Elderly group, serum 25(OH)D concentrations in DPN patients were lower than in non-DPN patients (P < 34.87 nmol/L suggests the occurrence of DPN in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes (P