Serum and aqueous humor vitamin D levels in patients with diabetic macular edema

PurposeTo compare serum and aqueous humor (AH) vitamin D levels between the patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) and controls.MethodsA total of 65 subjects (30 DME, 35 control) were included. One-third of the control group had hypertension, dyslipidemia, or diabetes mellitus without diabetic retinopathy as underlying diseases. Serum and AH levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were measured in each subject. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to investigate factors associated with serum and AH vitamin D levels.ResultsThere were no significant differences in serum vitamin D levels between the DME (14.39.1ng/mL) and control (16.2 +/- 8.0ng/mL) groups (P=0.374). However, eyes with DME (41.6 +/- 8.0ng/mL) had a higher AH level of vitamin D than control eyes (25.5 +/- 4.1ng/mL, P<0.001). AH vitamin D level was significantly associated with the presence of DME (=0.775, P<0.001). Serum and AH levels of vitamin D were not significantly correlated (r=-0.157, P=0.211).Conclusion p id=Par4 Serum vitamin D levels did not significantly differ between the DME and control groups. Localized vitamin D level in the eye was independent from systemic vitamin D level and it might be another indicator of DME severity.