Evidence mapPaperPMID 40450331Full record

ArticleNutrition journal2025

Optimizing serum 25(OH)D levels to mitigate the risk of age-related ocular diseases: insights from a large-scale prospective cohort study.

Zhiqian Huang, Shuyu Liu, Chao Chen, Keke Zhang, Yu Du, Xiangjia Zhu

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Article in Nutrition journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

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3citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Vitamins and nutraceuticals in glaucoma research.European journal of ophthalmology · 2026
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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Zhiqian Huang *Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China.
Shuyu Liu *Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China.
Chao ChenEye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China.
Keke ZhangEye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China.
Yu DuEye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China. joycedu624@163.com.
Xiangjia ZhuEye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China. zhuxiangjia1982@126.com.

Funding

Clinical Research Plan of Shanghai Shenkang Hospital Development Center SHDC12020111Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan of Shanghai Science and Technology Commission 23Y11909800 and 21S31904900Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty Program shslczdzk01901the National Natural Science Foundation of China 82122017, 82271069, 81870642, 82371040, 81970780, 81470613, 81670835 and 82201161
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundInvestigations into the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and the risk of age-related ocular diseases have yielded inconsistent results. Thus, we aimed to provide robust longitudinal evidence, identify optimal serum thresholds, and explore the underlying mechanisms.

methodsWe analyzed data of 322,953 participants from the UK Biobank. The serum 25(OH)D levels were assessed using chemiluminescent immunoassay. Outcomes were incidences of cataract, primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. Nonlinear relationships were explored using restricted cubic splines, and mediation analyses were performed to delineate potential mechanistic pathways.

resultsOur findings revealed U-shaped associations for cataract and AMD, and L-shaped associations for DR (all P < 0.05), with an optimal threshold of approximately 50 nmol/L, while no association with POAG was observed. Below this threshold, each 10 nmol/L increase in serum 25(OH)D concentration was linked to a 3.5%, 4.2%, and 6.0% reduction in the risk of cataract, AMD, and DR, respectively (HR 0.965 [95% CI 0.951-0.980]; HR 0.958 [95% CI 0.921-0.997]; HR 0.940 [95% CI 0.894-0.989], respectively), while above 50 nmol/L, no significant protective effects were observed. Mediation analyses revealed that the low-grade inflammation score and triglyceride-glucose index may mediate the effects of serum 25(OH)D on cataract and DR.

conclusionsThis study identified 50 nmol/L as the optimal serum 25(OH)D threshold for reducing risks of cataract, AMD and DR, with no benefits beyond this level. The protective effects may be mediated through modulation of inflammation and glucolipid metabolism pathways. The threshold effects highlight the importance of targeted vitamin D supplementation under careful monitoring of serum levels to optimize ocular health outcomes.

Indexed as

Eye DiseasesVitamin DAgedCataractDiabetic RetinopathyFemaleGlaucoma, Open-AngleHumansIncidenceMacular DegenerationMaleMiddle AgedProportional Hazards ModelsProspective StudiesRisk FactorsUnited Kingdom25-hydroxyvitamin DVitamin DAge-related ocular diseaseInflammatory statusNonlinear associationSerum 25(OH)DTyG index

Identifiers

PMID40450331
PMCPMC12126878

What Socratic holds

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.