Subclinical Vitamin D Deficiency in Postmenopausal Women with Low Vertebral Bone Mass*

• DOI: 10.1210/jcem-72-3-628
• Publication Date: 2009-07-20T21:45:44Z
• Authors: DENNIS T. VILLAREAL; ROBERTO CIVITELLI; ARKADI CHINES; LOUIS V. AVIOLI
• Keywords: Subclinical infection

To define the potential role of subclinical vitamin D deficiency in postmenopausal bone loss, we analyzed levels circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin (25OHD) 539 midwestern caucasian women screened for osteoporosis. Low 25OHD (less than 38 nmol/L) was found 49 subjects (aged 52-77 yr). Women with low had a reduced vertebral density (VBD), assessed by quantitative computed tomography, compared to age-matched controls (P less 0.001). They also significantly lower serum calcium and phosphate, urinary calcium, higher alkaline phosphatase, and, most cases, increased immunoreactive PTH (iPTH) concentrations, suggesting secondary hyperparathyroidism. Furthermore, only group did VBD correlate directly (r = 0.41; P 0.01), inversely iPTH -0.47; 0.01). Multivariate analyses revealed that major determinant observed decrease VBD. Seasonal variations were noted control population; this correlated sunlight exposure 0.48; as an outdoor score. Thus, develops when both endogenous exogenous sources are insufficient contributes mass elderly women.