Jee, DonghyunKim, Eun ChulCho, EunyoungArroyo, Jorge2016-07-142016Jee, Donghyun, Eun Chul Kim, Eunyoung Cho, and Jorge G. Arroyo. 2016. “Positive Association between Blood 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and Pterygium after Control for Sunlight Exposure.” PLoS ONE 11 (6): e0157501. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0157501. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0157501.1932-6203http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:27662140Purpose To investigate the association between blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and pterygium. Methods: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008–2011 were used for the present epidemiologic study. A total of 19,178 participants aged ≥ 30 years were evaluated for blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and performed ophthalmic slit lamp examinations. Pterygium was considered as a growth of fibrovascular tissue over the cornea. Results: The average blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were 18.6 ng/mL, and prevalence of pterygium was 6.5%. The odds of pterygium significantly increased across blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D quintiles after controlling sun exposure time as well as other confounders such as sex, age, smoking, diabetes, hypertension (P < 0.001). The odds ratios (OR) for pterygium was 1.51 (95% Confidence Interval[95%CI]; 1.19–1.92) in the highest blood vitamin D quintile. Stratified analysis by sex showed a positive association between blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and pterygium in both men (quintile 5 versus 1, OR; 1.68, 95%CI; 1.19–2.37) and women (quintile 5 versus 1, OR; 1.37, 95% CI; 1.00–1.88). Conclusions: Even after controlling sun light exposure time, we found a positive association between blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and pterygium in a representative Korean population. The mechanism underlying this association is unknown.en-USPhysical sciencesChemistryChemical compoundsOrganic compoundsVitaminsVitamin DOrganic chemistryMedicine and Health SciencesGeriatricsGeriatric OphthalmologyMacular DegenerationOphthalmologyRetinal DisordersMacular DisordersRetinal DegenerationPhysical SciencesPhysicsElectromagnetic RadiationLightSunlightSolar RadiationBiology and Life SciencesAnatomyBody FluidsBloodPhysiologyHematologyLens DisordersCataractsEndocrinologyEndocrine DisordersDiabetes MellitusMetabolic DisordersVascular MedicineBlood PressureHypertensionCell BiologySignal TransductionCell SignalingCalcium SignalingJournal Article2016-07-1410.1371/journal.pone.0157501