Serum Uric Acid Levels Are Related to Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, Especially for Motor Conduction Velocity of Tibial Nerve in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress is one of the most critical factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of neuronal damage, including diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Uric acid is a kind of natural antioxidant that plays a major role in the antioxidant capacity against oxidative stress. Here, we aim to determine the role of serum uric acid (SUA) in the DPN of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Patients and Methods. 106 patients with T2DM were recruited and divided into the DPN group and the control group. Clinical parameters, especially for motor nerve fiber conduction velocity and sensory nerve fiber conduction velocity, were collected. Differences between T2DM patients with and without DPN were compared. Correlation and regression analyses were performed to explore the association between SUA and DPN. RESULTS: Compare with 57 patients with DPN, 49 patients without DPN showed lower HbA1c and elevated SUA levels. Additionally, SUA levels are negatively associated with the motor conduction velocity of tibial nerve with or without adjusting for HbA1c. Besides, it is suggested that decreased SUA levels may influence the motor conduction speed of the tibial nerve by multiple linear regression analysis. Moreover, we demonstrated that decreased SUA level is a risk factor for DPN in patients with T2DM by binary logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Lower SUA is a risk factor for DPN in patients with T2DM. Additionally, decreased SUA may influence the damage of peripheral neuropathy, especially for motor conduction velocity of the tibial nerve.