Evaluation of vitamin D and serum lipid profile levels in obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction.

Purpose: To compare the serum lipid profile and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OH D3) levels of patients diagnosed with obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction (OMGD) and healthy controls.

Methods: This prospective study included OMGD patients who were seen at our clinic between April 2023 and October 2023 and age- and gender-matched controls. All participants underwent a detailed ophthalmological examination, including Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) testing, tear-film breakup time (TBUT), and shrinkage testing. Ocular surface staining (corneal and conjunctival staining) was evaluated according to the Oxford scale. The quality of the main meibomian secretions, morphological differences at the lid margin, and the degree of contamination of the meibomian secretions, which directly indicates meiboimian gland dysfunction, were evaluated. Serum 25-OH D3, triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were compared.

Results: Of our participants, 35 OMGD patients and 35 healthy controls, 35 (50%) were female and 35 (50%) were male. No statistically significant difference was observed in vitamin D levels between the healthy and OMGD groups (P=0.112). There was no significant difference in the distribution of serum vitamin D levels (deficient, inadequate, and optimal) between the two groups (P>0.05). Serum lipid levels (TG, TC, HDL, and LDL) were higher in the OMGD group than in the control group, but only TG was statistically significant (P=0.001).

Conclusion: Serum vitamin D levels did not significantly differ between the OMGD and control groups. However, there may be a relationship between the serum lipid profile and OMGD.