Association Between Vitamin D and Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988 Through 1994

Abstract

To evaluate the associations between levels of vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) in serum and prevalent age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods and Design: Cross-sectional associations of serum vitamin D and early and advanced AMD, assessed from nonmydriatic fundus photographs, were evaluated in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a multistage nationally representative probability sample of noninstitutionalized individuals (N=7752; 11% with AMD). Results: Levels of serum vitamin D were inversely associated with early AMD but not advanced AMD. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for early AMD among participants in the highest vs lowest quintile of serum vitamin D was 0.64 (95% CI, 0.5-0.8; P trend Ͻ.001). Exploratory analyses were conducted to evaluate associations with important food and supplemental sources of vitamin D. Milk intake was inversely associated with early AMD (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.6-0.9). Fish intake was inversely associated with advanced AMD (OR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.2-0.9). Consistent use vs nonuse of vitamin D from supplements was inversely associated with early AMD only in individuals who did not consume milk daily (early AMD: OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.5-0.9). Conclusion: This study provides evidence that vitamin D may protect against AMD. Additional studies are needed to confirm these findings.

The association between blood vitamins D and E with age-related macular degeneration: A pilot study

“…This result is in agreement with previous findings that indicated no significant correlation between blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and advanced AMD [31], but no early AMD. Parekh has investigated the association between serum vitamin D levels and AMD on 7,752 people.…”

The association between blood vitamins D and E with age-related macular degeneration: A pilot study

“…This result is in agreement with previous findings that indicated no significant correlation between blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and advanced AMD [31], but no early AMD. Parekh has investigated the association between serum vitamin D levels and AMD on 7,752 people.…”

Association of Vitamin D Deficiency and Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Medicare Beneficiaries

“…Our findings conflict with several previously published studies, 1-4 although Golan et al 6 also found no association between vitamin D levels and AMD. One possible explanation is that the cross-sectional study design and use of prevalent cases in earlier studies does not allow assessment of whether vitamin D deficiency predated development of AMD, whereas our study design looking at incident cases of AMD required that vitamin D deficiency occurred first.…”

Association Between Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations and Vision: A Cross‐sectional Population‐based Study of Older Adults

“…These results showed that low serum 25OHD concentrations were associated with poorer vision acuity. These findings are in concordance with a previous study that showed that serum vitamin D was inversely associated with AMD 5 . Because AMD is the most common cause of impaired visual acuity in older adults, 4 it could be inferred that in the elderly population in the current study, there was an association between low serum 25OHD and low visual acuity related to AMD.…”

The association between blood vitamins D and E with age-related macular degeneration: A pilot study

“…This result is in agreement with previous findings that indicated no significant correlation between blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and advanced AMD [31], but no early AMD. Parekh has investigated the association between serum vitamin D levels and AMD on 7,752 people.…”

Association of Vitamin D Deficiency and Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Medicare Beneficiaries

“…Our findings conflict with several previously published studies, 1-4 although Golan et al 6 also found no association between vitamin D levels and AMD. One possible explanation is that the cross-sectional study design and use of prevalent cases in earlier studies does not allow assessment of whether vitamin D deficiency predated development of AMD, whereas our study design looking at incident cases of AMD required that vitamin D deficiency occurred first.…”

Association Between Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations and Vision: A Cross‐sectional Population‐based Study of Older Adults

“…These results showed that low serum 25OHD concentrations were associated with poorer vision acuity. These findings are in concordance with a previous study that showed that serum vitamin D was inversely associated with AMD 5 . Because AMD is the most common cause of impaired visual acuity in older adults, 4 it could be inferred that in the elderly population in the current study, there was an association between low serum 25OHD and low visual acuity related to AMD.…”

The association between blood vitamins D and E with age-related macular degeneration: A pilot study

“…This result is in agreement with previous findings that indicated no significant correlation between blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and advanced AMD [31], but no early AMD. Parekh has investigated the association between serum vitamin D levels and AMD on 7,752 people.…”

Association of Vitamin D Deficiency and Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Medicare Beneficiaries

“…Our findings conflict with several previously published studies, 1-4 although Golan et al 6 also found no association between vitamin D levels and AMD. One possible explanation is that the cross-sectional study design and use of prevalent cases in earlier studies does not allow assessment of whether vitamin D deficiency predated development of AMD, whereas our study design looking at incident cases of AMD required that vitamin D deficiency occurred first.…”

Association Between Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations and Vision: A Cross‐sectional Population‐based Study of Older Adults

“…These results showed that low serum 25OHD concentrations were associated with poorer vision acuity. These findings are in concordance with a previous study that showed that serum vitamin D was inversely associated with AMD 5 . Because AMD is the most common cause of impaired visual acuity in older adults, 4 it could be inferred that in the elderly population in the current study, there was an association between low serum 25OHD and low visual acuity related to AMD.…”