Abstract
Purpose: :
To investigate the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and the prevalence of nuclear opacities and cataract among participants of the Carotenoids in Age-Related Eye Disease Study(CAREDS), an ancillary study of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI).
Methods: :
In 1,276 postmenopausal women, nuclear cataract was assessed from slit lamp photographs taken from 2001-2004. Serum 25(OH)D levels were assessed at WHI baseline (1994-1998). Age-adjusted and multivariate (age, iris color, smoking, pulse pressure) adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for nuclear cataract (nuclear opacities > level 4 and cataract extraction) by quintiles of 25(OH)D were estimated using logistic regression.
Results: :
No significant association was observed between 25(OH)D and nuclear cataract among women of all ages (Age-adjusted OR [95%CI] = 1.0 [0.6-1.4]). However, there was a significant age interaction (p for interaction = 0.04) in women 70 years.
Conclusions: :
High serum 25(OH)D levels may be protective against nuclear opacities in women aged <70, and explained by predictors of serum vitamin D and a systemic marker of inflammation.
Keywords: cataract • nutritional factors • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment