Relationship of Serum Vitamin D Levels With Diabetic Foot in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and aims: Diabetic foot is one of the most severe complications in patients with diabetes mellitus and has been linked to 25-OH-vitamin D status. This study aims to determine the prevalence of 25-OH-vitamin D deficiency and its association with diabetic foot. Methods: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into the diabetic foot group (n = 95) and the non-diabetic foot group (n = 388). Weight, height, and waist circumference were measured. The 25-OH-vitamin D and the other biochemical tests were extracted from the electronic medical records. The difference in clinical parameters between the diabetic foot group and the non-diabetic foot group was analyzed, and the risk factors of the diabetic foot group were analyzed using logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of 25-OH-vitamin D deficiency was 44.6%, accounting for 57.9% of all the diabetic foot group patients and only 41.0% of the non-diabetic foot group patients. The mean serum 25-OH-vitamin D level was significantly different between the diabetic foot group and the non-diabetic foot group (19.8 ± 9.5 vs 24.1 ± 11.8; P = .011). Serum 25-OH-vitamin D and B12 were found to have a significant positive correlation ( r = 0.410, P = <.01). The 25-OH-vitamin D level and body mass index were independently associated with diabetic foot ( P = .043, OR = 1.21; P = .009, OR = 1.47), respectively. Conclusions: The 25-OH-vitamin D deficiency was higher in the diabetic foot group. More research is needed to understand the role of 25-OH-vitamin D in the development of diabetic foot.