Abstract
AIM: Determination of the 25(OH) vitamin D levels in Greek-born and in Bangladeshi immigrant patients in Greece with diabetes with and without polyneuropathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The method for the detection and staging of polyneuropathy proposed by Dyck, 1988 was used. RESULTS: A total of 111 Bangladeshi immigrants and 101 Greek diabetic patients took part in the study. Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in Bangladeshi than in Greek diabetic patients, and were significantly lower in Greek patients with small-fiber neuropathy. In Bangladeshi patients, there was no statistically significant difference in the subgroup of patients with polyneuropathy in comparison to those without polyneuropathy. CONCLUSION: The association of vitamin D deficiency only with a small number of Greek patients with exclusively small-fiber neuropathy does not allow us to draw a definite conclusion on the role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy.