Vitamin B12 and D3 Levels in Leprosy Patients With or Without Deformity: A Cross-Sectional, Analytic Study

TL;DR

This study found no significant link between vitamin B12 and D3 levels and deformity or neuritis in leprosy patients, but noted a socioeconomic connection.

Contribution

The study is the first to investigate the relationship between vitamin B12 and D3 levels and deformity in leprosy patients.

Findings

Vitamin B12 and D3 levels were not significantly different between leprosy patients with and without deformities.

Neuritis was more common in patients with deformities, but vitamin levels were not predictive.

Socioeconomic factors were associated with the presence of deformities in leprosy patients.

Abstract

Background: Considering the role of vitamins B12 and D3 in musculoskeletal, bone, and nerve health, their possible role in deformity among leprosy patients remains to be investigated. The study compared vitamin B12 and D3 levels in leprosy patients with and without deformity, aiming to identify the cut-off points that predict deformity and neuritis.

Methods: With approval and informed consent, clinic-demographic, leprosy disease, and deformity-related data, as well as vitamin B12 and D3 levels, were recorded among both new and established leprosy patients attending the outpatient department from mid-February to mid-May 2024 and were categorized based on the presence or absence of deformities for comparison. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AuROC) and Youden’s J point for vitamin B12 and D3 levels, predicting deformity and neuritis, were also evaluated. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results: Data from 50 participants (21 with deformities) were analyzed. Patients with deformities were less educated compared to those without (p = 0.03). Similarly, the number of homemakers, daily wagers, and farmers was significantly higher in the deformities group. The prevalence of B12 and D3 deficits was 2 (9.52%) and 4 (19.04%) in patients with deformity and three (10.34%) and one (3.45%) in patients without deformity, respectively. Neuritis was more common in the deformity group (42.86% vs. 17.24%); however, the levels of B12 and D3 were statistically equivalent. AuROC (95% confidence) for B12 level and D3 for deformity were 0.405 (0.237-0.573) and 0.599 (0.434-0.764), and for neuritis, 0.645 (0.464-0.826) and 0.508 (0.339-0.677), respectively.

Conclusion: The present study showed an insignificant relationship between Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D3 levels in patients with and without deformities. Similar results were observed in neuritis. However, a relationship was found between socioeconomic status and deformity in patients with leprosy. Our interpretation, however, is limited by a single-center, nonlongitudinal design of study with a small sample size and a single testing occasion.

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