Work

The response of the retinal vessels to the vitamin D supplementation treatment running title: The retinal vessels and vitamin D supplementation treatment

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: • This study is unique in showing microvascular response to vitamin D supplementation. • Mean whole, parafoveal, and perifoveal VD in DCP were significantly reduced. • Final values of these parameters were inversely related to the vitamin D changes. • Retinal OCTA might indicate noninvasively the effectiveness of vitamin D treatment. We planned to prospectively investigate the response of retinal microvasculature to vitamin D supplementation treatment. This study was designed as a prospective, longitudinal study. We enrolled healthy adults with vitamin D deficiency. Baseline optical coherence tomography angiography parameters compared after vitamin D supplementation treatment. In the treated group, the mean whole, parafoveal, and perifoveal vessel density in deep capillary plexus were significantly reduced compared to the baseline ( p = 0.019, p = 0.023, p = 0.012, respectively). Additionally, the final whole, parafoveal, and perifoveal vessel density in deep capillary plexus were inversely related to the vitamin D changes (Spearman's rho:-0.516, p = 0.024; Spearman's rho:-0.524, p = 0.019; Spearman's rho:-0.569, p = 0.012, respectively). Vascular parameters did not change in the untreated group compared to the baseline. Although the effects of some confounding factors, such as exposure time to sunlight and dietary vitamin D intake in the study, were not yet known, vitamin D supplementation therapy appeared to affect retinal microvasculature. Optic coherence tomography angiography might indicate noninvasively the effectiveness or sufficiency of vitamin D treatment at the microvascular level, although the observed changes in the retinal vessels are as yet not fully understood.

Source: Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy

DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2025.104602

Authors: Sinem Karabulut, Tugba Dübektaş Canbek, Müjdat Karabulut, Okan Akmaz, Aylin Karalezli

Institutions: Izmir Bozyaka Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Muğla University

Language: English

Topic: Retinal Diseases and Treatments

Subfield: Ophthalmology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,610