Vitamin A Deficiency & the Risk of Diabetic Retinopathy, Unravelling the Link!

Vitamin A deficiency has been observed to be associated with diabetic retinopathy. However, only a limited number of studies have explored this link in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between serum vitamin A levels and diabetic retinopathy in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Between the years 2019 and 2024, data were retrospectively collected from a total of 470 healthy individuals and 1,020 individuals with type 2 diabetes. Among those with diabetes, 500 had no signs of diabetic retinopathy, while 520 were diagnosed with the condition.

Participants were required to be over the age of 30 and to have undergone retinal examinations to determine the severity of diabetic retinopathy, as well as blood tests to measure serum vitamin A levels. Findings revealed that a substantial portion of participants had low levels of vitamin A in their blood.

Individuals with diabetic retinopathy had significantly lower vitamin A levels compared to healthy participants. After accounting for various influencing factors, the study found that individuals with diabetic retinopathy were more likely to have vitamin A deficiency. Furthermore, the likelihood of vitamin A deficiency increased in relation to the severity of diabetic retinopathy. When the participants were further divided according to the severity of their diabetic retinopathy, it became evident that lower levels of vitamin A were associated with more advanced stages of the disease.

This relationship appeared to be influenced by whether the individuals smoked or had a history of high blood pressure. Additionally, over a two-year period of follow-up, individuals with lower vitamin A levels were more likely to develop diabetic retinopathy, suggesting a progressive link between declining vitamin A status and disease progression. This study indicates that reduced levels of vitamin A in the blood are associated with both the presence and severity of diabetic retinopathy in people with type 2 diabetes. A deficiency in vitamin A may therefore serve as a potential biological risk factor for the development and worsening of diabetic retinopathy.