The Relationship between Vitamin D and Glaucoma: A Kangbuk Samsung Health Study

Abstract

PurposeTo investigate the relationship between vitamin D and glaucoma.MethodsThis retrospective, cross-sectional study included subjects who underwent a health screening at the Health Screening Center of Kangbuk Samsung Hospital from August 2012 to July 2013. All fundus photographs were reviewed by ophthalmologists. The ophthalmologists determined if an eye was glaucomatous based on the criteria set forth by the International Society of Geographical and Epidemiological Ophthalmology and by the appearance of the retinal nerve fiber layer and optic disc. If the subjects previously underwent an ophthalmologic examination, they were enrolled based on the documented history. In addition to fundus photographs, each participant underwent a systemic examination including blood sampling and sociodemographic and behavioral questionnaires. The subjects were divided into five groups according to serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to assess possible associations between elevated glaucoma risk and systemic factors with a p < 0.2 on univariate analysis.ResultsOf the 169,208 subjects older than 20 years, 123,331 were eligible for the study. There was no difference in the prevalence of glaucoma according to quintile of serum 25(OH)D level based on sex (p = 0.412 for males, p = 0.169 for females). According to the multivariable-adjusted logistic analysis, the odds ratio of glaucoma for the fourth quintile was significantly lower than that of the first quintile in females (odds ratio, 0.713; 95% confidence interval, 0.520 to 0.979).ConclusionsLower 25(OH)D level was significantly associated with an elevated risk of glaucoma in females compared with higher 25(OH)D level. Further evaluation is needed to investigate the relationship between glaucoma and vitamin D.

Glaucomatous Optic Nerve Changes and Thyroid Dysfunction in an Urban South Korean Population

“…This dividing analysis method was used to it at previous study with blood chemistry data [13]. History of thyroid abnormalities and newly diagnosed subjects were classified into hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodular cyst, and thyroid hormone treatment.…”

“…Subjects were divided equally into four groups (quartiles) based on thyroid laboratory testing as follows: thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH, μ IU/mL) quartiles, Q1 (TSH < 1.30), Q2 (1.30 ≤ TSH < 1.90), Q3 (1.90 ≤ TSH < 2.75), and Q4 (TSH ≥ 2.75); free thyroxine (free T4, ng/dL) quartiles, Q1 (free T4 < 1.15), Q2 (1.15 ≤ free T4 < 1.26), Q3 (1.26 ≤ free T4 < 1.38), and Q4 (free T4 ≥ 1.38); and triiodothyronine (T3, pg/mL) quartiles, Q1 (T3 < 2.87), Q2 (2.87 ≤ T3 < 3.12), Q3 (3.12 ≤ T3 < 3.40), and Q4 (T3 ≥ 3.40). This dividing analysis method was used to it at previous study with blood chemistry data [ 13 ]. History of thyroid abnormalities and newly diagnosed subjects were classified into hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodular cyst, and thyroid hormone treatment.…”

Food Supplements in the Treatment of Ophthalmic Diseases: Preclinical and Clinical Studies

“…Vitamin D plays a role in the signaling pathways related to bone and mineral metabolism, cellular proliferation, immune modulation, and oxidative stress [169,170]. A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is observed in patients with glaucoma, confirmed by low circulating amounts of vitamin D in these subjects [171,172]. Metabolomic analysis on plasma samples from 72 POAG patients compared to 72 healthy controls revealed alterations of vitamin D metabolic pathways correlating with vitamin D insufficiency in POAG patients [173]; moreover, the presence of specific vitamin D receptor polymorphisms were found to be relevant risk factors in the development of glaucoma [174].…”

Vitamin D and regulation of vascular cell function

“…Based on a recent review by Reins and McDermott (130), studies of vitamin D in the eye have been focused on myopia, retinoblastoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, uveitis, and glaucoma. Epidemiological studies revealed a reverse association between serum vitamin D levels and the prevalence of myopia (35,53), AMD (14,115), diabetic retinopathy (4,116,117), dry eye syndrome (182), tear hyperosmolarity and tear film dysfunction (45), and open angle glaucoma (in the Korean population) (181) with elevated risk of glaucoma in females (84). Serum levels of 25(OH)D 3 were significantly lower in neovascular AMD compared with non-neovascular AMD and control groups (71), further supporting a direct role for vitamin D in the regulation of angiogenesis.…”