Cataracts continue to be the most common cause of blindness globally, with aging being the strongest risk factor, although nutritional and metabolic factors are increasingly being explored. Vitamin D, a calcium regulatory hormone that also plays roles in oxidative stress and immune modulation, has been suggested to play a role in lens health. Nevertheless, until recently, the association between serum vitamin D levels and cataract risk had been controversial.
The study utilized UK Biobank data, both in current cataract cases (cross-sectional) and new cases in the future (longitudinal).
•Cross-sectional analysis: 442,255 participants with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] data
• Longitudinal analysis: 427,923 individuals without cataract at baseline, followed for a mean of 10.8 years
Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were categorized in quartiles, and logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were applied to evaluate the risk of cataracts.
Key Findings
Cross-sectional findings:
• Increased quartiles of serum vitamin D were inversely related to cataract risk
• Trend was significant (p for trend <0.001)
Longitudinal findings (mean follow-up: 10.8 years):
• Vitamin D deficiency raised risk of cataracts (HR 1.11, 95% CI 1.07–1.15)
Serious deficiency (<25 nmol/L) increased cataract risk in a different way by age group:
• 27% increased risk in persons younger than 50 years (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.07–1.49)
• 12% increased risk in persons between 50–60 years (HR 1.12, 95% CI 1.04–1.21)
• 9% increased risk in persons above 60 years (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.04–1.14)
• Reference group (50–75 nmol/L): Served as the comparison group
This large UK Biobank investigation identified substantial cross-sectional and prospective relationships between vitamin D deficiency and enhanced risk of cataract. These findings highlight the need for early monitoring and intervention for vitamin D deficiency as an integral part of cataract prevention policy.
Reference:
Peng, Y., Zhang, Y., Kam, K. W., Ho, M., Au, S. C. L., Zhang, X., Ng, M. P. H., Ip, P., Young, A. L., Pang, C.-P., Tham, C. C., Chen, L. J., & Yam, J. C. (2025). Association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D with cataract: a cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of the UK Biobank. The British Journal of Ophthalmology, bjo-2024-326716. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjo-2024-326716
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