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Original Research

Folate status in type 2 diabetic patients with and without retinopathy

, , , , , , , , & show all
Pages 1437-1442 | Published online: 07 Aug 2015
 

Abstract

Background

Folate deficiency is associated with cardiovascular disease, megaloblastic anemia, and with hyperhomocysteinemia. This study has been undertaken to investigate the role of folate status during the progression of the diabetic retinopathy.

Methods

We measured the plasma levels of homocysteine, folic acid, and red cell folate in 70 diabetic type 2 patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), 65 with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), 96 without diabetic retinopathy, and 80 healthy subjects used as a control group.

Results

We found higher plasma levels of homocysteine in the NPDR group compared to the control group (P<0.001) and in the PDR group compared to control group (P<0.001) and NPDR group (P<0.01). The severity of diabetic retinopathy was associated with lower folic acid and red cell folate levels, and a significant difference was observed between PDR and NPDR groups (P<0.05).

Conclusion

The folate status could play a role in the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy.

Acknowledgments

GM has been supported by the International PhD program in Neuropharmacology, University of Catania, Italy.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.