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. 2021 Dec 6;13(12):e20208.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.20208. eCollection 2021 Dec.

Effectiveness of Empagliflozin With Vitamin D Supplementation in Peripheral Neuropathy in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Sanjana Mehta  1 , Parminder Nain  1 , Bimal K Agrawal  2 , Rajinder P Singh  3 , Jaspreet Kaur  1 , Sabyasachi Maity  4 , Aniruddha Bhattacharjee  5 , Jagannadha Peela  6 , Shreya Nauhria  7 , Samal Nauhria  8
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Free PMC article

Effectiveness of Empagliflozin With Vitamin D Supplementation in Peripheral Neuropathy in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Sanjana Mehta et al. Cureus. .
Free PMC article

Abstract

Background: Neuropathy is the most prevalent broad-spectrum microvascular complication of diabetes. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of empagliflozin with vitamin D supplementation on diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, controlled study was conducted for six months including 150 type 2 diabetic patients, divided into three groups (n=50/group): Group 1, patients on oral hypoglycemic agents; Group 2, patients on empagliflozin and Group 3, patients on empagliflozin with vitamin D. Biochemical parameters were estimated for outcome measurements and patients' neuropathic pain was analysed using Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questions, Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory and Ipswich Touch the toes test questionnaire. Data were analysed using a one-way analysis of variance.

Results: Diabetic neuropathy in males was more prevalent (more than 50%) as compared to females in all three groups, with an average age of 50±6 years, along with a diabetic history of 15±4.5 years and a glycated hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) level of >10%. The mean value of serum vitamin D level significantly increased by 64.7% (19±5 to 54±8 ng/mL; p<0.05). A remarkable decrease (by 17.4%) from baseline in the HbA1C level was observed after six months of treatment only in Group 3, whereas in other groups (1 and 2), there was a non-significant decrease in HbA1C levels when compared to baseline. Moreover, a significant improvement in neuropathic condition was seen only in Group 3.

Conclusion: The results indicated that empagliflozin with vitamin D supplementation significantly controlled or reduced HbA1C and improved diabetic neuropathic symptoms in patients. It is suggested that this combination can be considered as the primary therapeutic approach for neuropathic complications in diabetic patients.

Keywords: diabetes mellitus management; empaglifozin; peripheral neuropathies; type 2 diabets mellitus; vitamin-d.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Percentage of improvement in domains of the Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questions (DN-4) score
Figure 2
Figure 2. Percentage improvement in Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI) scores
Figure 3
Figure 3. Percentage improvement score of the Ipswich Touch the toes test (ITTT)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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