Abstract
Background
Increasing attention has been focused on diseases associated with ageing, as the mean age of the population in developed countries increases. Vitamin D and parathyroid hormone play key roles in calcium homeostasis, which is integral to skeletal health.
Aims
To assess the vitamin D status of healthy, community dwelling, middle-aged and older females.
Methods
General biochemistry and bone profiles, including ALP, PTH and 25(OH)D, were determined.
Results
Of 143 healthy white women receiving no supplementation or bone modifying treatments, 47% were vitamin D insufficient (<50 nmol/L) and only 4% were sufficient for the time of year. There was no statically significant correlation between age and 25(OH)D concentrations; neither was there a statistically significant seasonal variation in 25(OH)D levels noted.
Conclusion
Vitamin D status should be assessed more often in middle-aged and older females. Expected age-related and seasonal variations in 25(OH)D levels were not confirmed in this study.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Holick MF, Chen TC (2008) Vitamin D deficiency: a worldwide problem with health consequences. Am J Clin Nutr 87:1080S–1086S
Rapuri PB, Kinyamu HK, Gallagher C, Haynatzka V (2002) Seasonal changes in calciotropic hormones, bone markers, and bone mineral density in elderly women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 87(5):2024–2032
Holick MF (2004) Sunlight and vitamin D for bone health and prevention of autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease. Am J Clin Nutr 80:1678S–1688S
Zhou C, Assem M, Tay JC et al (2006) Steroid and xenobiotic receptor and vitamin D receptor crosstalk mediates CYP24 expression and drug-induced osteomalacia. J Clin Invest 116:1703–1712
Need AG, Morris HA, Horowitz M, Nordin BEC (1993) Effects of skin thickness, age, body fat, and sunlight on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Am J Clin Nutr 58:882–885
Anderson PH, O’Loughlin PD, May BK, Morris HA (2005) Modulation of CYP27B1 and CYP24 mRNA expression in bone is independent of circulating 1, 25(OH)2 D3. Bone 36:654–662
Holick MF (1990) The use and interpretation of assays for vitamin D and its metabolites. J Nutr 120:1464–1469
Iqbal SJ (1994) Vitamin D metabolism and the clinical aspects of measuring metabolites. Ann Clin Biochem 31:109–124
Phinney KW (2008) Development of a standard reference material for vitamin D in serum. Am J Clin Nutr 88:511S–512S
DeLuca HF (2004) Overview of general physiologic features and functions of vitamin D. Am J Clin Nutr 80:1689–1696
Holick MF, Siris ES, Binkley N et al (2005) Prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy among postmenopausal North American women receiving osteoporosis therapy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 90:3215–3224
Holick MF (2006) High prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy and implications for health. Mayo Clinic Proc 81:353–373
Sahota O, Mundey MK, San P, Godber IM, Hosking DJ (2006) Vitamin D insufficiency and the blunted PTH response in established osteoporosis: the role of magnesium deficiency. Osteoporos Int 17:1013–1021
DeLappe E, McGreevy C, Ni Chadhain N, Grimes H, O’Brien T, Mulkerrin E (2006) Vitamin D insufficiency in older female community-dwelling acute hospital admissions and the response to supplementation. Eur J Clin Nutr 60:1009–1015
McKenna MJ (1992) Differences in vitamin D status between countries in young adults and the elderly. Am J Med 93:69–77
Lips P, Wiersinga A, van Ginkel FC et al (1988) The effect of vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D status and parathyroid function in elderly subjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 67:644–650
Krall EA, Sahyoun N, Tannenbaum S, Dallal GE, Dawson-Hughes B (1989) Effect of vitamin D intake on seasonal variations in parathyroid hormone secretion in postmenopausal women. N Engl J Med 321:1777–1783
Chapuy MC, Preziosi P, Maamer M et al (1997) Prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in an adult normal population. Osteoporos Int 7:439–443
Malabanan A, Veronikis IE, Holick MF (1998) Redefining vitamin D insufficiency. Lancet 351:805–806
Thomas KK, Lloyd-Jones DM, Thadhani RI et al (1998) Hypovitaminosis D in medical inpatients. N Engl J Med 338:777–783
Hill TR, O’Brien MM, Lamberg-Allardt C et al (2006) Vitamin D status of 51–75-year-old Irish women: its determinants and impact on biochemical indices of bone turnover. Public Health Nutr 9:225–233
Hill T, Collins A, O’Brien M, Kiely M, Flynn A, Cashman KD (2005) Vitamin D intake and status in Irish postmenopausal women. Eur J Clin Nutr 59:404–410
Chapuy MC, Arlot ME, Duboeuf F et al (1992) Vitamin D3 and calcium to prevent hip fractures in the elderly women. N Engl J Med 327:1637–1642
Garnero P, Munoz F, Sornay-Rendu E, Delmas PD (2007) Associations of vitamin D status with bone mineral density, bone turnover, bone loss and fracture risk in healthy postmenopausal women: The OFELY study. Bone 40:716–722
Freaney R, McBrinn Y, McKenna MJ (1993) Secondary hyperparathyroidism in elderly people: combined effect of renal insufficiency and vitamin D deficiency. Am J Clin Nutr 58:187–191
Sahota O, Gaynor K, Harwood RH, Hosking DJ (2001) Hypovitaminosis D and ‘functional hypoparathyroidism’–the NoNoF (Nottingham Neck of Femur Study). Age Aging 30:467–472
Hashemipour S, Larijani B, Adibi H et al (2006) The status of biochemical parameters in varying degrees of vitamin D deficiency. J Bone Miner Metab 24:213–218
Acknowledgments
The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee at Galway University Hospital in September 2006.
Conflict of interest
None.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
The work was carried out in Galway University Hospital and Merlin Park Hospital, Galway.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lardner, E., Fitzgibbon, M., Wilson, S. et al. Hypovitaminosis D in a healthy female population, aged from 40 to 85 years, in the west of Ireland. Ir J Med Sci 180, 115–119 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-010-0550-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-010-0550-y