Role of vitamin D deficiency in type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic neuropathy development

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global epidemic associated with severe vascular complications development. Diabetic neuropathy is the most common chronic complication of DM that worsens patients life quality and prognosis. Therefore, studies dealing with DM and diabetic neuropathy underlying mechanisms are extremely relevant. The review discusses current views on vitamin D role in glucose metabolism and inflammatory processes. It is reported that vitamin D deficiency can contribute to insulin resistance development, and change in vitamin D receptor activity or extra- and intracellular calcium concentration due to vitamin D deficiency can affect pancreatic -cells function and lead to decrease in insulin production. Key pathogenic mechanisms of diabetic neuropathy as well as possible relationship between vitamin D deficiency and neuropathy development are in focus of this review. Results of recent clinical trials regarding vitamin D supplementation in patients with DM are also discussed. The presented data suggest that vitamin D deficiency can be considered as a non-classical risk factor for the development of not only DM but its complications as well.

High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation Improves Microcirculation and Reduces Inflammation in Diabetic Neuropathy Patients

“…Vitamin D deficiency has been shown to affect diabetic complications by influencing glucose metabolism and inflammatory process [3,33]. Pleiotropic effect of vitamin D on inflammation has been found to play an important role in DPN development, and it is of great scientific and practical interest [34]. Some studies have shown higher TNFα and lower IL-10 levels associated with increased HbA1c in patients with T2DM and DPN than in patients with impaired glucose tolerance and healthy controls [35].…”