A new study suggests that patients with diabetes, who also suffer from vitamin D deficiency, have an increased risk of nerve damage known as neuropathy.
This condition, which worsens over time, reportedly affects about 50% of patients with diabetes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
These findings are significant given that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the UAE is 16.3%, nearly double the global rate of 9.3%.
Furthermore, projections show that this prevalence could increase to 21.4% in the UAE by 2030.
The Study
The research was led by Dr. Bashair M. Mussa, Associate Professor at the University of Sharjah’s College of Medicine.
She and her team analyzed retrospective data from the medical records of 600 Emirati patients at the University Hospital Sharjah.
The findings, which were published in the journal Cells, revealed that half of these patients suffer from neuropathy, marked by pain and muscle weakness that progressively intensifies.
The Significance
While numerous studies have examined how and why patients with diabetes develop neuropathy, Dr. Mussa’s research is unique in attributing the nerve disease to vitamin D deficiency.
This connection is particularly surprising given the UAE’s sunny climate, which one might expect to lead to higher levels of vitamin D.
However, the study notes that the intense, year-round sunlight in the UAE may actually deter people from spending time outdoors.
The Implications
In addition to the personal health toll, diabetic neuropathy is associated with high rates of morbidity, mortality, and economic burden.
This study’s findings underscore the potential role of vitamin D in preventing or mitigating neuropathy in patients with diabetes.
Importantly, prior research has shown improvements in diabetic neuropathy with short-term vitamin D supplementation.
“This highlights the necessity of designing large-scale studies that involve multiple centers in the UAE to further understand the risk factors and predictors that are associated with diabetic neuropathy,” says Dr. Mussa.
Future Directions
Given the high rates of diabetes and neuropathy in the UAE, further research is needed to verify the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and neuropathy.
Future studies should also explore potential interventions, such as vitamin D supplementation, that could help manage or even prevent neuropathy in patients with diabetes.
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The study was published in Cells.
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