Author: Jose Maria Ruiz-Moreno
Co-authors: Antonio Perez-Serena, Daisy Martinez-Betancourt, Fernando Gonzalez del Valle
Abstract
Purpose:The aim of this study was to determine the 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients.
Setting/Venue:
Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital General la Mancha Centro, Alcázar de San Juan, Ciudad Real (Spain)
Methods:
AMD patients were classified into four groups: early AMD (N=10), intermediate AMD (N=12), advanced atrophic AMD (N=19) and advanced neovascular AMD (N=52) after undergoing fundus photography. Serum 25(OH)D levels of all subjects were evaluated. From a random control group of
326 patients whose 25(OH)D levels had been measured, a group of 93 were selected to match the age range of the AMD group. We measured 25(OH)D levels during the same period to rule out seasonal variation.
Results:
A total of 93 AMD patients (36 males and 57 females) and 93 healthy individuals (39 males and 54 females) were enrolled in this study with the mean age of 78.96±8.46 vs. 78.80±8.35 years, respectively. The patients affected by AMD had statistically significant lower 25(OH)D levels (15±10 ng/mL) than the healthy subjects control group (21±14 ng/mL) (p=0.004). However, the median 25(OH)D levels in early AMD,
intermediate AMD, advanced atrophic AMD and advanced neovascular AMD (12.5±7.3; 15±11; 15±8 and 17±11.5, respectively) were not statistically significant (p=0.442).
Conclusions:
This study shows that patients affected by AMD had lower vitamin D levels compared to healthy subjects. Further research is necessary to investigate the possible association between 25(OH)D levels and AMD.