Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Vitamin D is suggested to be an inhibitor of angiogenesis. The degree of severity of Diabetic retinopathy (DR) may be related to serum Vitamin D concentration so this study aims at investigating vitamin D and parathormone (PTH) concentrations as predictors of the development and severity of diabetic retinopathy.

Material and methods: Levels of vitamin D [25(OH) D3 and Calcitriol] and PTH were measured in 200 diabetic patients presenting with suspected diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy was assessed using 7-field stereoscopic Fundus photography.

Results: Mean serum concentration of 1, 25 dihydroxy vitamin D 3 (1, 25(OH)2 D3) was significantly lower in diabetic subjects with retinopathy than in diabetic subjects with no retinopathy and There is a significant negative correlation between the mean level of 1, 25 (OH) 2 D3 and the degree of severity of retinopathy. Level of PTH was significantly higher in severe NPDR and PDR compared to patients with no retinopathy.

Conclusions: low levels of vitamin D might be a risk marker of development or progression of diabetic retinopathy. It might be advisable that detailed ophthalmologic examination is needed for diabetics whose serum 1, 25(OH) 2D3 concentrations are gradually decreases. The measurement of serum 1, 25(OH) 2D3 concentrations could become a useful biochemical means to predict the severity of DR in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.