Evaluation of the relationship between vitamin D, sodium and potassium with nephropathy and its severity in patients with type 2 diabetes

Diabetes is one of the most common metabolic diseases that has macrovascular and microvascular complications including nephropathy, retinopathy and neuropathy. Electrolyte and vitamin D disorders have also been seen in diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum levels of vitamin D, sodium and potassium with nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes.

This case-control study was performed on 83 patients with type 2 diabetes referred to Shahrivar Hospital in Mashhad in 2019 who were divided into two groups with nephropathy and no nephropathy. Fat, creatinine, FBS, HbA1c, GFR profiles were evaluated along with other demographic information. Serum level of vitamin D was measured by ELISA method and serum level of sodium and potassium was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in all patients. IBM-SPSS v.20 software was used to analyze the findings and the significance level of the tests was less than 0.05.

The mean age was 59.27±10.62 years which included 45 men and 38 women. Body mass index (P-value=0.009), Smoking (P-value=0.005), Duration of Diabetes, Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure, Potassium, FBS, HbA1c, Creatinine, GFR were significantly different between the two groups. (P-value=0.0001 for each). Also, there was a significant relationship between serum vitamin D level (P-value=0.004) with the incidence and serum potassium level with the severity of nephropathy (P-value=0.001).

Control of serum levels of vitamin D and potassium can affect the incidence and severity of diabetic nephropathy, so control of these variables is recommended in these patients.