A bstract Aim: This study evaluated nerve conduction velocity (NCV) in non-vegetarian and vegetarian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Serum vitamin B12 and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were assessed between the groups, and the correlation of these parameters with NCV was evaluated. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients with T2DM (30 non-vegetarians and 30 vegetarians) were included in the study. Peripheral neuropathy was evaluated through sensory and motor NCV tests for the median, ulnar, and sural nerves. Levels of serum vitamin B12 and IL-6 were assessed and analyzed among different dietary groups. Correlations between NCV and biochemical parameters were examined. Results: Vegetarians exhibited significantly lower serum vitamin B12 levels than non-vegetarians ( P = 0.0004), and no significant difference in IL-6 levels was observed across the groups ( P = 0.96). The NCV of the sural nerve was significantly higher in vegetarians ( P = 0.02). Correlations indicated weak, insignificant associations between vitamin B12 and median sensory NCV ( P = 0.06), as well as an inverse relationship between IL-6 and ulnar sensory NCV ( P = 0.06). Conclusion: Vegetarians demonstrated enhanced sural nerve conduction despite reduced vitamin B12 levels. The trends observed concerning vitamin B12 and IL-6 effects on NCV necessitate further research.
Ahmed et al. (2026) studied this question.