title: Lack of Definite Association of Vitamin D Deficiency with Diabetic Neuropathy. Investigation in Greek and in Bangladeshi Patients.
abstract: Determination of the 25(OH) vitamin D levels in Greek-born and in Bangladeshi immigrant patients in Greece with diabetes with and without polyneuropathy.
  
  
  
  The method for the detection and staging of polyneuropathy proposed by Dyck, 1988 was used.
  
  
  
  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.
  
  
  
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aeginition Hospital, Athens, Greece thomzambelis@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zambelis
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Metaxas Anticancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Papadakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aeginition Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kokotis
authors.affiliation: Biochemical Department, Metaxas Anticancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece.
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Villiotou
authors.affiliation: Biochemical Department, Metaxas Anticancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dogkas
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aeginition Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karandreas
mesh_terms: D001459:Bangladesh / Q000208:ethnology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000453:epidemiology*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: Bangladeshi; Diabetic neuropathy; Greek; vitamin D