Serum Calcium, Vitamin D and C-Reactive Protein as Early Predictors for Diabetic Foot Ulcer

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) has emerged as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among diabetic patients, with the numbers of amputation and death are significantly increasing. DFU has a complex multifactorial etiology with several pathophysiological mechanisms and risk factors implicated. Finding reliable indicators to predict the prognosis of diabetic foot has become an urgent and critical need. The current study aimed to investigate the association between levels of serum calcium, vitamin D and C-reactive protein and the development of DF. One hundred and twenty diabetic patients with a confirmed diagnosis of DFU were included in the study. The ratio of cases and control subjects was 1:1. We measured serum calcium, vitamin D, CRP, HbA1C, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and triglycerides in both cases and control subjects. The study found significantly low levels of serum calcium and vitamin D as well as high levels of HbA1C, CRP, serum creatinine, LDL, and TAG among cases. Serum calcium, vitamin D and CRP were significantly associated with DFU. As the treatment of DFU is challenging, these parameters might predict the development of DFU in diabetic patient and might therefore help reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with DFU.