The relationship between vitamin D deficiency and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in patients with diabetes

Abstract

Background/aim: Vitamin D deficiency in diabetic patients has been shown to be associated with some inflammatory markers. However,its relationship with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationshipbetween vitamin D deficiency and ESR in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 294 consecutive patients with T2DM. Serum levels of25-hydroxyvitamin D, glycemic parameters, lipids, ESR, and C-reactive protein were measured. Patients were evaluated according to25-hydroxyvitamin D levels as having vitamin D deficiency, vitamin D insufficiency, and vitamin D sufficiency.Results: ESR was found to be higher in patients with vitamin D deficiency than in patients who were vitamin D-sufficient (P < 0.001),and ESR was negatively correlated with 25-hydroxyvitamin D level (r = –0.265, P < 0.001). HbA1c and postprandial glucose levelswere higher in patients with vitamin D deficiency than vitamin D-sufficient patients (P = 0.005 and P = 0.019, respectively). In receiveroperating curve analysis, an ESR value of 14.5 mm/h had 70.1% sensitivity and 50.3% specificity for the prediction of vitamin Ddeficiency.Conclusion: The present study revealed that ESR is higher in T2DM patients with vitamin D deficiency than patients with sufficientvitamin D. There was an inverse association between ESR and vitamin D levels. Furthermore, vitamin D deficiency was related to poorglycemic control.