This study evaluated the association between the comorbidity of visceral leishmaniasis and the lifestyle disease, diabetes mellitus (DM), by PCV evaluation, the renal markers (urea and creatinine) and liver enzymes (ALT and AST) in affected adults in Osun State, Nigeria. Samples were collected from patients across Osun State after obtaining ethical clearance, and informed written consent. ELISA method was used for VL and Vitamin D determination in serum and plasma. Liver and kidney function assays were done spectrophotometrically using Randox® kits. A total of 146 unrelated subjects (72 cases and 74 controls) were randomly selected for this study. Mean age and the male: female ratio of case and control were calculated. Frequencies of tested parameters among the groups were compared using the chi square and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The VL positive control patients had significantly higher ALT and AST levels compared to the negative control group (0.009 and 0.033, respectively). Increases in serum creatinine and aminotransferases (ALT and AST) were observed in VL, although only significantly so (p<0.05) in the latter, while increases in serum urea and creatinine, although not significantly so (p<0.05), were only observed in DM. Although Vitamin. D levels significantly reduced (p<0.05) in patients with only VL and only DM, it was observed not to have significantly reduced in patients with both DM and VL. This study affirms the effects on liver and kidney functions as well as on Vitamin D levels in the DM patients in the presence of latent VL infection. We suggest a more elaborate study involving a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of vitamin D supplementation for which serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and other clinically relevant glycemic indices may be measured in patients on pentavalent antimonial medications for VL.
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Keywords: Visceral leishmaniasis, diabetes mellitus, renal markers, liver enzymes, 25-hydroxyvitamin D and Osun State population
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