title: Vitamin D Deficiency Is Associated with the Presence and Severity of Diabetic Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
abstract: There is very few evidences on the role of vitamin D in the development of diabetic retinopathy. The aim of the current study was to explore whether there is an association of vitamin D status and diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes. Two groups of patients were selected: 139 and 144 patients with and without retinopathy, respectively, as assessed by an experienced ophthalmologist. Subjects with advanced late diabetic complications were excluded to avoid confounding biases. 25-Hydroxy-vitamin D3 (25(OH)D) concentrations and vitamin D deficiency were associated with the presence of diabetic retinopathy. Additionally, patients with more advanced stages of retinopathy (grades 2-4) had lower concentrations of 25(OH)D and were more frequently vitamin D deficient as compared with patients not carrying this eye complication. In conclusion, our study confirms the association of vitamin D deficiency with the presence and severity of diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes. Further experimental and prospective studies on this issue are clearly warranted.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida, University of Lleida, Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alcubierre
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics & Epidemiology Unit, Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida, University of Lleida, Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valls
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida, University of Lleida, Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain ; Department of Endocrinology & Nutrition, University Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rubinat
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Aureli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esquerda
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Traveset
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida, University of Lleida, Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Minerva
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Granado-Casas
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jurjo
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida, University of Lleida, Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain ; Department of Endocrinology & Nutrition, Health Sciences Research Institute and University Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Carretera Canyet S/N, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
authors.forename: Didac
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2868-0250
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mauricio
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D012306:Risk; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D002112:Calcifediol