Frontiers in Nutrition (Mar 2021)

Severe Vitamin D Deficiency Is Associated With Increased Expression of Inflammatory Cytokines in Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

  • Gong Xiaohua,
  • Luo Dongdong,
  • Niu Xiaoting,
  • Chen Shuoping,
  • Shen Feixia,
  • Yang Huajun,
  • Zhou Qi,
  • Chen Zimiao

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2021.612068
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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Background: The exact pathogenic mechanism of the painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is poorly understood. Our study aimed to evaluate the association amongst vitamin D status, inflammatory cytokines, and painful DPN.Methods: A total of 483 patients were divided into three groups, i.e., diabetes without DPN (no-DPN, n = 86), diabetes with painless DPN (painless DPN, n = 176) and diabetes with painful DPN (painful DPN, n = 221) groups. Basic information and laboratory results were collected. The concentrations of vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were also measured.Results: The prevalence of severe vitamin D deficiency (<10 ng/mL) was more common in the painful DPN group than in the painless DPN and no-DPN groups (25.8,12.5, and 8.1%, respectively, P < 0.01). Cases in the painful DPN group had significantly higher concentrations of IL-6 (P < 0.01) and TNF-α (P < 0.01) than those in the two other groups. The multivariate logistic analysis showed that severe vitamin D deficiency, IL-6, and TNF-α were independent risks for painful DPN after adjusting for confounding factors. Furthermore, the vitamin D status had significantly negative correlations with IL-6 (r = −0.56, P < 0.01) and TNF-α (r = −0.47, P < 0.01) levels.Conclusion: Severe vitamin D deficiency was an independent risk factor for the painful DPN. Severe vitamin D deficiency status may play a role in the painful DPN pathogenesis through elevated IL-6 and TNF-α levels.

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