Association between vitamin D level and cataract: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Purpose The association between serum vitamin D level and cataract remains controversial. This study aims to evaluate the association between vitamin D level and cataract. Methods In this study, articles in the PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases were searched up to 30 August 2023 and 626 articles were screened. Four studies involving a total of 10,928 subjects with cataract and 10,117 control subjects met the inclusion criteria. Results Decreased serum vitamin D level was associated with higher incidence of cataract (P = 0.047; MD: -4.87; 95%CI: [-9.67, -0.07]). In the subgroup analysis by sex, a significant association was found between serum vitamin D level and cataract in both male (P = 0.01, MD: -2.15,95%CI: [-3.83, -0.46]) and female (P < 0.01; MD: -6.67,95%CI: [-8.20, -5.14]).In the subgroup analysis by the types of cataract, significant association was found between serum vitamin D level and nuclear (P < 0.01; MD: -10.48; 95%CI: [-12.72, -8.24]) and posterior subcapsular cataract (P = 0.02; MD: -6.05; 95%CI: [-11.30, -0.80]) but not in cortical cataract (P = 0.14; MD: -6.74; 95%CI: [-15.70, 2.22]). Conclusion This meta-analysis revealed potential association between serum vitamin D level and cataract, more significant in female, and the subtypes of nuclear and posterior subcapsular cataract.