Evaluation of the relationship between serum vitamin D3 levels and the risk of osteomyelitis in diabetic patients

Background: Because of neuropathy, vascular dysfunction, and reduced neutrophil activity, patients with diabetes mellitus are more likely to get severe diseases of the feet. Numerous studies have shown an association of low serum levels of vitamin D3 with cardiovascular disease, malignancies, diabetes, infectious diseases, and immune system problems. Thus, the purpose of the present investigation was to look into the connection between serum vitamin D3 levels and the likelihood of osteomyelitis in individuals with diabetes.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study focused on hospital-referred diabetes individuals. The required demographic information was collected by a data collection form with questions and answers. In addition, serum vitamin D3 levels were determined by taking non-fasting blood samples, and the frequency of serum vitamin D3 deficiency in individuals with and without osteomyelitis of the foot was also considered (serum vitamin D3 level less than 20ng/ml as deficiency and 20-32ng/ml were considered as inadequate levels). Data analysis was performed using SPSS statistical software version 20.

Results: The overall prevalence of vitamin D3 deficiency was 78.7% and osteomyelitis was observed in 18.7% of the total patients. In addition, osteomyelitis occurred in 6.3% of individuals with normal serum vitamin D3 levels and in 22% of those with a deficit in the vitamin. That being said, the findings demonstrated no connection between the incidence of osteomyelitis in diabetes individuals and serum vitamin D3 levels. However, insufficiency in vitamin D3 was linked to ageing more. Between the ages of 40 and 60, 89.8%, 80%, and 36.4%, respectively, were the age categories with the highest prevalence of vitamin D3 insufficiency. Individuals with low blood vitamin D3 levels had an average duration of diabetes of 9.051±7.61 years, whereas those without vitamin D insufficiency had an average duration of 5.125±2.45 years. The mean age of those who had osteomyelitis was 67.57 10.37, whereas the mean age of those without the disease was 58.06 15.18. This difference was shown to be statistically significant. According to the findings, those with osteomyelitis had a noticeably greater mean duration of diabetes than other patients. For those with osteomyelitis, the mean age at which diabetes first appeared was 13,143±9.26 years; for other patients, it was 7.08±5.93 years. Osteomyelitis, BMI, and gender, however, did not correlate.

Conclusion: The levels of blood vitamin D3 and osteomyelitis were not significantly correlated. A strong correlation was found between the age and duration of diabetes, serum vitamin D3 insufficiency, and the risk of osteomyelitis.