The effect of vitamin D therapy on inflammatory markers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral polyneuropathy

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is multifactorial, and includes increased inflammation. In recent years, the effect of vitamin D therapy on improving the profile of inflammatory parameters has been actively studied. AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess inflammation markers before and after various doses of cholecalciferol therapy in T2DM with DPN. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single-center open randomized study included T2DM patients with PDN. Sixty-seven patients were randomized into 2 groups. For 24 weeks Group I have been taking a dosage of cholecalciferol 5,000 IU/week, and Group II a dosage of 40,000 IU/week. At the baseline and in the end of the research there have been studied body mass index (BMI), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), PTH, interleukin-1β, -6, -10 (IL), C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor -α (TNFα). RESULTS: Sixty-two patients completed the study. Group I (n=31, F16), Group II (n=31, F15) were initially compared by age, sex, BMI and НbA1clevel. Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency was detected in 78% of patients with T2DM. After 24 weeks of therapy with cholecalciferol in Group II there was a significant decrease in BMI, HbA1c, IL-6 levels and an increase in IL-10 levels while no changes were found in Group I. There has been established a correlation between the final level of 25(OH)D and IL-6 (r=-0.378, p=0.036), IL-10 (r=0.483, p=0.006), BMI (r=-0.388, p=0.031) and НbA1c(r=-0.388, p=0.031). CONCLUSION: The intake of cholecalciferol at a dosage of 40,000 IU/week for 24 weeks is associated with a decrease in BMI, improvement of glycemic control and pro-inflammatory markers profile in patients with T2DM with DPN. Study results showed that the normalization of serum 25(OH)D level can be one of the modifying factors for the development and progression of DPN in patients with T2DM

Role of vitamin D deficiency in type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic neuropathy development

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global epidemic associated with severe vascular complications development. Diabetic neuropathy is the most common chronic complication of DM that worsens patients’ life quality and prognosis. Therefore, studies dealing with DM and diabetic neuropathy underlying mechanisms are extremely relevant. The review discusses current views on vitamin D role in glucose metabolism and inflammatory processes. It is reported that vitamin D deficiency can contribute to insulin resistance development, and change in vitamin D receptor activity or extra- and intracellular calcium concentration due to vitamin D deficiency can affect pancreatic β-cells function and lead to decrease in insulin production. Key pathogenic mechanisms of diabetic neuropathy as well as possible relationship between vitamin D deficiency and neuropathy development are in focus of this review. Results of recent clinical trials regarding vitamin D supplementation in patients with DM are also discussed. The presented data suggest that vitamin D deficiency can be considered as a non-classical risk factor for the development of not only DM but its complications as well

Evaluation of biosimilarity of RinGlar® (GEROPHARM LLC, Russia) and Lantus® (Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Germany) using the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique in patients with type 1 diabetes: double-blind randomized clinical trial

Background: Prevention of the development of micro-and macrovascular complications in patients with diabetes melli-tus (DM) encouraged the search for insulin analogues that allow imitating, as close as possible, a normal physiological insulin secretion in healthy people. Biosimilars (bioanalogues of reference products) play an important role in the full provision with high-quality insulin medications throughout patients. The program of clinical trials of insulin bioanalogues includes pharmacology studies: pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD) and clinical safety research.Aims: To test whether RinGlar® (GEROPHARM LLC, Russia) and Lantus® (Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Germany) have similar PK and PD profiles in a hyperinsulinemic euglycaemic clamp (HEC) setting in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Permission of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation No. 150 of 03/03/2016.Materials and methods: The study was conducted in 42 patients with type 1 diabetes aged 18 to 65 years. A doubleblind, randomized, crossover study of comparative PK and PD of drugs was chosen as a study design. The investigational products were injected after achieving a state of euglycemia before the HEC in a single dose of 0.6 U/kg subcutaneously into the subcutaneous fat of the anterior abdominal wall. During the study, regular blood sampling was performed, the amount of insulin glargine in the samples was determined by ELISA. The results are used to calculate the PK parameters and generate the concentration-time curves. The glucose infusion rate was corrected based on the measurement of glycemia. These data are used to calculate the PD parameters.Results: RinGlar® and Lantus® interventions have comparable PK and PD profiles in HEC setting in patients with type 1 diabetes. This is confirmed by the similarity of the main PK/PD parameters, PK/PD curves, and comparable safety. The confidence intervals of the geometric mean ratio were 81.02% - 120.62% for the PK parameter AUCins0-T, and 85.43% - 115.64% for the PD-parameter AUCGIR0_T, which fall within the specified limits of 80% - 125% to establish comparability between drugs.Conclusions: Results of the clinical trial demonstrate the biosimilarity of the products RinGlar® and Lantus®

Atrasentan and renal events in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (SONAR): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Short-term treatment for people with type 2 diabetes using a low dose of the selective endothelin A receptor antagonist atrasentan reduces albuminuria without causing significant sodium retention. We report the long-term effects of treatment with atrasentan on major renal outcomes. Methods: We did this double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial at 689 sites in 41 countries. We enrolled adults aged 18–85 years with type 2 diabetes, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)25–75 mL/min per 1·73 m 2 of body surface area, and a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR)of 300–5000 mg/g who had received maximum labelled or tolerated renin–angiotensin system inhibition for at least 4 weeks. Participants were given atrasentan 0·75 mg orally daily during an enrichment period before random group assignment. Those with a UACR decrease of at least 30% with no substantial fluid retention during the enrichment period (responders)were included in the double-blind treatment period. Responders were randomly assigned to receive either atrasentan 0·75 mg orally daily or placebo. All patients and investigators were masked to treatment assignment. The primary endpoint was a composite of doubling of serum creatinine (sustained for ≥30 days)or end-stage kidney disease (eGFR <15 mL/min per 1·73 m 2 sustained for ≥90 days, chronic dialysis for ≥90 days, kidney transplantation, or death from kidney failure)in the intention-to-treat population of all responders. Safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of their assigned study treatment. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01858532. Findings: Between May 17, 2013, and July 13, 2017, 11 087 patients were screened; 5117 entered the enrichment period, and 4711 completed the enrichment period. Of these, 2648 patients were responders and were randomly assigned to the atrasentan group (n=1325)or placebo group (n=1323). Median follow-up was 2·2 years (IQR 1·4–2·9). 79 (6·0%)of 1325 patients in the atrasentan group and 105 (7·9%)of 1323 in the placebo group had a primary composite renal endpoint event (hazard ratio [HR]0·65 [95% CI 0·49–0·88]; p=0·0047). Fluid retention and anaemia adverse events, which have been previously attributed to endothelin receptor antagonists, were more frequent in the atrasentan group than in the placebo group. Hospital admission for heart failure occurred in 47 (3·5%)of 1325 patients in the atrasentan group and 34 (2·6%)of 1323 patients in the placebo group (HR 1·33 [95% CI 0·85–2·07]; p=0·208). 58 (4·4%)patients in the atrasentan group and 52 (3·9%)in the placebo group died (HR 1·09 [95% CI 0·75–1·59]; p=0·65). Interpretation: Atrasentan reduced the risk of renal events in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease who were selected to optimise efficacy and safety. These data support a potential role for selective endothelin receptor antagonists in protecting renal function in patients with type 2 diabetes at high risk of developing end-stage kidney disease. Funding: AbbVie

Vitamin D Intake May Reduce SARS-CoV-2 Infection Morbidity in Health Care Workers

In the last 2 years, observational studies have shown that a low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level affected the severity of infection with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). This study aimed to analyze the potential effect of vitamin D supplementation in reducing SARS-CoV-2 infection morbidity and severity in health care workers. Of 128 health care workers, 91 (consisting of 38 medical doctors (42%), 38 nurses (42%), and 15 medical attendants (16%)) were randomized into two groups receiving vitamin D supplementation. Participants of group I (n = 45) received water-soluble cholecalciferol at a dose of 50,000 IU/week for 2 consecutive weeks, followed by 5000 IU/day for the rest of the study. Participants of group II (n = 46) received water-soluble cholecalciferol at a dose of 2000 IU/day. For both groups, treatment lasted 3 months. Baseline serum 25(OH)D level in health care workers varied from 3.0 to 65.1 ng/mL (median, 17.7 (interquartile range, 12.2; 24.7) ng/mL). Vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and normal vitamin D status were diagnosed in 60%, 30%, and 10%, respectively. Only 78 subjects completed the study. Vitamin D supplementation was associated with an increase in serum 25(OH)D level, but only intake of 5000 IU/day was accompanied by normalization of serum 25(OH)D level, which occurred in 53% of cases. Neither vitamin D intake nor vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency were associated with a decrease in SARS-CoV-2 morbidity (odds ratio = 2.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.72 to 7.12). However, subjects receiving high-dose vitamin D had only asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 in 10 (26%) cases; at the same time, participants who received 2000 IU/day showed twice as many SARS-CoV-2 cases, with mild clinical features in half of them

Vitamin D Status and Immune Response in Hospitalized Patients with Moderate and Severe COVID-19

A low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level is considered as an independent risk factor for COVID-19 severity. However, the association between vitamin D status and outcomes in COVID-19 is controversial. In the present study we investigate the association between the serum 25(OH)D level, immune response, and clinical disease course in patients with COVID-19. A total of 311 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were enrolled. For patients with a vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency, the prevalence of severe COVID-19 was higher than in those with a normal 25(OH)D level (p &lt; 0.001). The threshold of 25(OH)D level associated with mortality was 11.4 ng/mL (p = 0.003, ROC analysis). The frequency of CD3+CD4+ T helper (Th) cells was decreased in patients with 25(OH)D level &le; 11.4 ng/mL, compared to healthy controls (HCs). There were no differences in the frequency of naive, central memory (CM), effector memory (EM), and terminally differentiated effector memory Th cells in patients with COVID-19 compared to HCs. The frequency of T-follicular helpers was decreased both in patients with 25(OH)D level &gt; 11.4 ng/mL (p &lt; 0.001) and 25(OH)D level &le; 11.4 ng/mL (p = 0.003) compared to HCs. Patients with 25(OH)D level &gt; 11.4 ng/mL had an increased frequency of Th2 CM (p = 0.010) and decreased Th17 CM (p &lt; 0.001). While the frequency of Th2 EM was significantly increased, the frequency of Th17 EM was significantly decreased in both groups compared to HCs. Thus, 25(OH)D level is an independent risk factor for the disease severity and mortality in patients with COVID-19. We demonstrate that the serum 25(OH)D level &le; 11.4 ng/mL is associated with the stimulation of Th2 and the downregulation of Th17 cell polarization of the adaptive immunity in patients with COVID-19

Effect of Cholecalciferol Supplementation on the Clinical Features and Inflammatory Markers in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: A Randomized, Open-Label, Single-Center Study

Recent studies showed that a low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level was associated with a higher risk of morbidity and severe course of COVID-19. Our study aimed to evaluate the effects of cholecalciferol supplementation on the clinical features and inflammatory markers in patients with COVID-19. A serum 25(OH)D level was determined in 311 COVID-19 patients. Among them, 129 patients were then randomized into two groups with similar concomitant medication. Group I (n = 56) received a bolus of cholecalciferol at a dose of 50,000 IU on the first and the eighth days of hospitalization. Patients from Group II (n = 54) did not receive the supplementation. We found significant differences between groups with the preferential increase in serum 25(OH)D level and Δ 25(OH)D in Group I on the ninth day of hospitalization (p p = 0.006); we did not observe other clinical benefits in patients receiving an oral bolus of cholecalciferol. Moreover, in Group I, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts were significantly higher (p = 0.04; p = 0.02), while the C-reactive protein level was significantly lower on the ninth day of hospitalization (p = 0.02). Patients with supplementation of 100,000 IU of cholecalciferol, compared to those without supplementation, showed a decrease in the frequencies of CD38++CD27 transitional and CD27−CD38+ mature naive B cells (p = 0.006 and p = 0.02) and an increase in the level of CD27−CD38− DN B cells (p = 0.02). Thus, the rise in serum 25(OH)D level caused by vitamin D supplementation in vitamin D insufficient and deficient patients may positively affect immune status and hence the course of COVID-19