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World J Diabetes. May 15, 2026; 17(5): 118141
Published online May 15, 2026. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v17.i5.118141
Published online May 15, 2026. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v17.i5.118141
Vitamin D, vitamin D receptor FokI polymorphism, and diabetic retinopathy: A case-control study in Kunming, China
Ze-Hui Liu, Zhen-Qin Ran, Rong Yang, Li-Xin Chen, Zi-Zhou Wang, Rui Han, Department of International Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, Yunnan Province, China
Yi-Yu Li, School of Economics, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, Yunnan Province, China
Co-first authors: Ze-Hui Liu and Zhen-Qin Ran.
Author contributions: Liu ZH and Ran ZQ contributed equally to this work. Both authors contributed to methodology, formal analysis, data extraction, follow-up, writing, reviewing, and editing as co-first authors; Yang R and Chen LX were involved in the supervision and software; Wang ZZ and Li YY contributed to data curation; Han R contributed to the analysis and provided guidance for the research; all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by Yunnan Province International Joint Laboratory for Innovation and Application of Key Technologies in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus and Chronic Complications, No. 202503AP140036; Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Department-Kunming Medical University Basic Research Program, No. 202501AY070001-009; and Famous Doctor Special Project of Yunnan Xingdian Talent Support Program, No. XDYC-MY-2022-0004.
Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University.
Informed consent statement: All participants provided informed consent.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflict of interest in publishing the manuscript.
STROBE statement: The authors have read the STROBE Statement – checklist of items, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the STROBE Statement – checklist of items.
Data sharing statement: The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article, no additional data are available.
Corresponding author: Rui Han, MD, Professor, Department of International Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 295 Xichang Road, Kunming 650032, Yunnan Province, China. gjyxbylyh@163.com
Received: December 25, 2025
Revised: February 24, 2026
Accepted: April 3, 2026
Published online: May 15, 2026
Processing time: 137 Days and 21.6 Hours
Revised: February 24, 2026
Accepted: April 3, 2026
Published online: May 15, 2026
Processing time: 137 Days and 21.6 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This study identified vitamin D (VD) deficiency and VD receptor FokI ff genotype as independent risk factors for diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Assessment of VD deficiency status and VD receptor FokI genotyping may facilitate diabetic retinopathy risk stratification and early intervention.