Objective To analyze the relationship between vitamin D status and grip strength in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, and to investigate the effect of vitamin D on grip strength. Method One hundred and twenty-six patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled. All subjects were measured for body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density (BMD) of the femoral neck and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D3) levels. Subjects were assessed for grip strength using a handgrip dynamometer. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the associations between vitamin D and grip strength. Results Compared with healthy controls, type 2 diabetes patients had lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D3) levels (male: 12.45±6.93 ng/mL vs 16.25±6.73 ng/mL; female: 10.67±6.23 ng/mL vs 13.29±6.24 ng/mL, both P < 0.05), lower grip strength (male: 35.34±8.86 kg vs 37.67±10.27 kg; female: 23.30±5.95 ng/mL vs 35.34±8.86 kg, both P < 0.05), and females patients also had lower femoral neck BMD (0.89±0.13 g/cm2 vs 1.05±0.16 g/cm2, P < 0.05). Sixty-five male and 61 female diabetic patients were included in this study, and the average age was 58.65±11.67 years. According to the level of serum 25(OH)D3, the male and the female patients were divided into three groups: seriously deficient group (<10ng/mL), deficient group (≥10 ng/mL but <20ng/mL) and insufficient group (≥20 ng/mL but < 30ng/mL). In male patients, femoral neck BMD and grip strength in the seriously deficient group were lower than those of the insufficient group (33.54±7.77 kg vs39.34±5.91 kg, P < 0.05). In female patients, the femoral neck BMD and grip strength in the seriously deficient group and deficient group were lower than those of the insufficient group (18.03±5.32 vs 22.68±6.78 vs 28.10±0.07 kg, P < 0.05]. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that the level of 25 (OH)D3 was positively correlated with the grip strength in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (r=0.239, P =0.031. Conclusion There was independent positive correlation between the level of vitamin D and the muscle strength in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. |