Prevalence and severity of vitamin D deficiency in patients with diabetic foot infection

Study answer

What this study found

25(OH)D lower in cases: 40.3 vs 50.8 nmol/L (P<0.001). Vitamin D inadequacy (<75 nmol/L) present in 87.4% of cases and 82.6% of controls (not significant, OR 1.45; P=0.32). Severe deficiency (<25 nmol/L) more common in cases (46.4% vs 17.6%), OR 4.0 (95% CI 2.4–6.9; P<0.0001). After adjusting for age, diabetes duration, and HbA1c, the association persisted. Age, duration of diabetes, and HbA1c were higher in cases. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is more prevalent and severe in diabetics with foot infection; supplementation may be considered to potentially improve outcomes, though causality…

Study & population

Observational case-control study at Banaras Hindu University, India.

Key limitation

Observational, case-control design; single-center hospital-based sample; potential residual confounding (sun exposure, mobility) despite adjustments; vitamin D status measured at a single time point; no direct assessment of immunological parameters; no interventional data; cannot establish causality.

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Original abstract