The association between vitamin D and uveitis: A comprehensive review

Vitamin D plays an important role in both the innate and adaptive immune systems. We review published data on the relationship between uveitis and vitamin D levels or vitamin D-associated gene polymorphisms. A search of the PubMed and Medline databases was conducted to identify relevant articles concerning vitamin D and uveitis. Sixteen studies were included in this review, and the evidence they present, linking low vitamin D levels with uveitis, is compelling. The uveitic entities shown to be modulated by hypovitaminosis D include, but are not limited to, HLA-B27-associated acute anterior uveitis, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease, sarcoidosis-associated uveitis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis. Specific polymorphisms of vitamin D family genes were found to correlate with uveitis in ankylosing spondylitis, Behçet's disease, VKH, and HLA B27-positive patients. Further understanding of the role of vitamin D, a known regulator of inflammatory processes, in noninfectious uveitis may advance capabilities in the fields of disease prevention and treatment.