Association between Vitamin D and Diabetic Retinopathy: The Clinical and Pathophysiological Perspective

Abstract

Various emerging evidences show that the prevalence of diabetes and its most common complication i.e., diabetic retinopathy (DR) is increasing at a very rapid pace. Effective tools for its prevention and treatment are still a matter of ongoing researches. Since decrease level of vitamin D is very commonly associated with patients of diabetes and vitamin D has vascular protective properties, anti-inflammatory properties, and antioxidant actions. Multiple studies have reported the association of VD deficiency (VDD) with DR and its severity and progression, whereas the effects of vitamin D supplementation on the disease process are still not very clear. In this study we review the available evidences that supports the possible association of Vitamin D with DR and the protective role it could provide to the patients of diabetic retinopathy, so that we can conduct studies to see the beneficial effect of supplementation of vitamin D in diabetic retinopathy.

Keywords: Diabetes, Diabetic retinopathy, Vitamin D, Vitamin D deficiency, Anti-oxoidants