Serum vitamin D and age-related macular degeneration: Systematic review and meta-analysis

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#humans #macular-degeneration #risk-factors #vitamin-d #vitamin-d-deficiency

Serum vitamin D and age-related macular degeneration: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Ferreira et al., 2021 | Surv Ophthalmol | Meta Analysis

Citation

Ferreira André, Silva Nisa, ... Andrade José P. Serum vitamin D and age-related macular degeneration: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Surv Ophthalmol. 2021;66(2):183-197. doi:10.1016/j.survophthal.2020.07.003

Abstract

Vitamin D may be implicated in the pathophysiology of several ocular diseases, but its role in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) remains uncertain. We sought to review systematically the existing evidence to evaluate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D 25(OH)D levels and AMD. A four-database search (PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scopus) was performed from inception to May 2020 using the MeSH terms: ("Macular Degeneration" OR "Age-related macular degeneration" OR "Retinal degeneration" OR "Macula lutea") AND ("Vitamin D" OR "Ergocalciferols" OR "Cholecalciferol" OR "25-Hydroxyvitamin D"). Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to compute 1) the standard mean difference in 25(OH)D concentration between AMD and non-AMD patients and 2) the AMD risk according to serum 25(OH)D levels. Eighteen observational studies enrolling 75,294 patients after a selection process among 375 original abstracts were selected. No significant differences were found, but there appears to exist a trend for late AMD among subjects with a serum 25(OH)D level below 50 nmol/L (odds ratio, 1.8; 95% confidence interval: 1.00-3.24, P = 0.05). There is no clear evidence of a definitive association between serum 25(OH)D and AMD risk, mainly due to heterogeneity in study procedures and lack of longitudinal designs.

Key Findings

There is no clear evidence of a definitive association between serum 25(OH)D and AMD risk, mainly due to heterogeneity in study procedures and lack of longitudinal designs.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population a serum 25
Sample Size 75294
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Macular Degeneration
  • Risk Factors
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin D Deficiency
  • Vitamins

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: vitamin-d

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09