Medicine (Baltimore). 2026 Jun 12;105(24):e49091. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000049091.
ABSTRACT
This study investigates the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Participants were divided into 3 groups based on their 25(OH)D status: normal (group A), insufficient (group B), and deficient (group C). The study analyzed the relationship between 25(OH)D and DR, as well as its association with various clinical parameters. In T2DM patients, 25(OH)D levels were significantly correlated with serum phosphorus (P), serum calcium (Ca), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), parathyroid hormone (PTH), diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), and DR (all P <.05). Comparison between the DR and non-DR (NDR) groups revealed significant differences in disease duration, triglyceride (TG), blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine (Scr), urine microalbumin (UMA), urinary creatinine (Ucr), free triiodothyronine (FT3), 25(OH)D3, total 25(OH)D, DPN, diabetic kidney disease, and hypertension (P <.05). Among these, 25(OH)D3, total 25(OH)D, and FT3 were identified as potential risk factors for Dr Vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with an increased risk of diabetic microvascular complications, including DR, DPN, and diabetic kidney disease (P <.05). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the optimal cutoff values for predicting DR onset in T2DM patients were 23.15 ng/mL for 25(OH)D3 and 23.33 ng/mL for total 25(OH)D. Reduced 25(OH)D levels are closely associated with the development of DR in T2DM patients, with 25(OH)D serving as a protective factor. Given that vitamin D deficiency may elevate the risk of diabetic microvascular complications, routine assessment of vitamin D, particularly vitamin D3, is recommended in the management of T2DM.
PMID:42299530 | DOI:10.1097/MD.0000000000049091