{
  "abstract": "Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in older adults, with limited options to prevent disease progression. Vitamin D may influence AMD pathogenesis through anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and anti-angiogenic effects. This study aims to investigate the association between deseasonalized plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and the risk of incident AMD, as well as longitudinal changes in macular layer thickness in an elderly population. Design Population-based cohort study. Participants 700 eyes from 429 participants aged ≥ 65 years from the Alienor Study, followed over up to 18 years. Methods Baseline deseasonalized plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were measured and categorized as sufficient (≥ 50 nmol/l), insufficient (25 - 49 nmol/l), or deficient (< 25 nmol/l). Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for demographic, lifestyle, and clinical covariates were used to estimate the risk of incident AMD. Longitudinal linear mixed-effects models assessed changes in outer retinal layer thicknesses derived from OCT imaging. Main Outcome Measures: Incident intermediate and advanced AMD based on fundus color photographs and OCT. Results Mean baseline deseasonalized plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was 37.9 ± 14.9 nmol/l. Vitamin D deficiency (< 25 nmol/l) was significantly associated with increased risk of incident intermediate AMD compared to sufficient levels (≥ 50 nmol/l, HR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.19 - 4.61; p = 0.01), while insufficiency (25 - 49 nmol/l) showed a borderline increased risk (HR = 1.74; 95% CI: 0.98 - 3.08; p = 0.06). No significant associations were observed with advanced AMD. Vitamin D-deficient participants also experienced a significant increase in retinal pigment epithelium–Bruch’s membrane (RPE–BM) complex thickness over time (β = 0.07 μm/year; 95% CI: 0.01 - 0.13; p = 0.02), while other outer retinal layers showed no significant change. Conclusions Low deseasonalized plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were associated with a higher risk of developing intermediate AMD and progressive thickening of the RPE–BM complex, a key retinal structure implicated in AMD pathogenesis. These findings support an association hypothesis and highlight vitamin D status as a candidate modifiable factor worthy of further investigation.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Petra P. Larsen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Marie-Noëlle Delyfer"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jean-François Korobelnik"
    },
    {
      "name": "Cécile Delcourt"
    },
    {
      "name": "Bénédicte M. J. Merle"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0qyzp7aef7vnq.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1016/j.xops.2026.101364",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "0qyzp7aef7vnq",
  "issns": [
    "2666-9145"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://hal.science/hal-05784432v1",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "hal",
      "0.sdv"
    ],
    [
      "hal",
      "1.sdv.spee"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2731|Retinal Diseases and Treatments"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7203646658",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": "42824725",
  "published": "2026-10-07",
  "publisher": "American Academy of Ophthalmology",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0qyzp7aef7vnq.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:50Z",
      "native_id": "hal-05784432",
      "source": "hal",
      "url": "https://hal.science/hal-05784432v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "hal:0.sdv",
      "subfield": "general"
    },
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "hal:1.sdv.spee",
      "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Plasma Vitamin D and Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Insights from the Longitudinal ALIENOR Study",
  "title_text": "Plasma Vitamin D and Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Insights from the Longitudinal ALIENOR Study",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:50Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0qyzp7aef7vnq",
  "venue": "Ophthalmology Science",
  "versions": []
}