ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A trio of authors today reported their analysis of observational studies revealed a significant association between vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR), one of the leading causes of blindness throughout the world.
Dr. Sikarin Upala, Dr. Jason Zhang and Dr. Anawin Sanguankeo analyzed data from 13 studies involving more than 9,000 participants to arrive at their conclusion, which was presented as an abstract at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) 25th Annual Scientific & Clinical Congress.
“Although the role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy has been, and remains, an area of debate, our meta-analysis of current evidence shows a statistically significant connection between VDD and DR and suggest people with low vitamin D levels should be screened for diabetic retinopathy,” said Dr. Sanguankeo.
The study authors further suggested that vitamin D supplementation as a mechanism against the development of progression of DR, particularly in older female patients, warrants further investigation.
About the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE)
The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) represents more than 7,000 endocrinologists in the United States and abroad. AACE is the largest association of clinical endocrinologists in the world. The majority of AACE members are certified in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism and concentrate on the treatment of patients with endocrine and metabolic disorders including diabetes, thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, growth hormone deficiency, cholesterol disorders, hypertension and obesity. Visit our site at www.aace.com.
About the American College of Endocrinology (ACE)
The American College of Endocrinology (ACE) is the educational and scientific arm of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE). ACE is the leader in advancing the care and prevention of endocrine and metabolic disorders by: providing professional education and reliable public health information; recognizing excellence in education, research and service; promoting clinical research and defining the future of Clinical Endocrinology. For more information, visit www.aace.com/college.
