The relationship between plasma homocysteine levels and diabetic peripheral neuropathy

• Published in: Chung-hua nei kʿo tsa chih Vol. 50; no. 1; p. 14
• Main Authors: Li, Jian-bo, Cheng, Yu-ze, Shi, Min, Zhang, Hong-man, Dai, Qing, Zhang, Yu, Wang, Yan-juan, Chen, Ji-wen, Wang, Hong-xing, Chen, Jia-wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: China 01.01.2011
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood; Diabetic Neuropathies - etiology; Female; Homocystine - blood; Humans; Hyperhomocysteinemia - complications; Male; Middle Aged; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases - etiology; Risk Factors
• ISSN: 0578-1426

To explore the relationship between plasma homocysteine levels and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPNP). A crossectional analysis was conducted on 227 patients with type 2 diabetes. Peripheral neuropathy was confirmed using electromyography (EMG). The risk factors possibly associated with diabetic neuropathy or plasma homocysteine levels were analyzed in relation to likelihood of occurrence of DPNP. Eighty patients with neuropathy and 147 patients without neuropathy were included. Plasma homocysteine levels were significantly higher in patients with diabetic neuropathy [(12.6 ± 3.6) µmol/L] than without diabetic neuropathy [(8.2 ± 0.9) µmol/L] (P < 0.001), and the relationship remained significant after adjusting for duration of diabetes, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), age, renal status, serum folate acid and vitamin B(12), and metformin [OR 1.15 (1.02 - 1.28), P < 0.05]. In addition, per increase of 4.0 µmol/L plasma homocysteine was closely related to the occurrence of neuropathy after controlling fo