High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Japanese Female Patients with Graves' Disease.

Abstract

Abstract.We reported previously that vitamin D deficiency is a causal mechanism of postoperative tetany in patients with Graves' disease. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency by reviewing serum 25(OH)D levels in 208 patients with Graves' disease (146 women, 62 men) during a 1 year period. Serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower (p <0.001) in female Graves' patients (31.8± 13.3 nmol/1) than in male patients (41.3 ± 15.0 nmol/1). Vitamin D deficiency (defined as a serum 25(OH)D value below 25 nmol/l) was found in 40% of female patients and in 18% of male patients (p<0.005).There was a significant seasonal variation in the 25(OH)D concentrations in female patients [amplitude 6.38 (95% CI, 5.42-7.56)], with values below 25 nmol/1 found in 58% of female patients during the winter months. There were significant (p <0.001) differences in serum 25(OH)D levels between age groups in the female patients.The concentrations were lowest in patients in their twenties (25.1 ±8.2 nmol/1) and highest in patients in their fifties and sixties (43.2± 13.7 nmol/1). Serum 25(OH)D concentrations might be monitored in patients with Graves' disease during antithyroid drug therapy, and vitamin D and/or calcium supplements are recommended for patients with vitamin D deficiency.

Reliable Earlier and Causative Biomarker in newly Diagnosed Hypothyroid Cases—Vitamin D: A Case–control Study

“…8,13 Moreover, in the hypothyroid patients, the intestinal motilities were sluggish and it causes the malabsorption of vitamin D and it goes as a vicious cycle. 14 20,21 Hence, usually serum concentration of 25(OH)D is measured as it has longer half-life of 15 days, which was followed in the present study also. Even though increased TSH is used as the marker of hypothyroidism for long time, it is only a feedback mechanism to reduce T3 and T4 and it will elevate during the time the disease has already progressed.…”

An Uncommon Skeletal Manifestation of Graves’ Disease

“…In addition, associated myopathy also contributes to fracture by increasing the risk of fall. Low serum vitamin D level has also been established in these patients [3]. Proposed mechanisms are: decreased synthesis in skin due to thyrotoxicosis-associated hyperpigmentation, decreased absorption due to steatorrhea and increased degradation due to hepatic enzyme stimulation.…”

Sunlight–derived vitamin D affects interleukin-4 level, T helper 2 serum cytokines, in patients with Graves’ disease: a prospective cohort study

“…This finding is linear to Vanderpump 2 data which showed peak age of GD incidence to be from 20 to 49 years old. 2 In Japan, Yamashita et al 9 and Yasuda et al 10 study showed mean age of 37 to 39 years old.…”

“…This finding is similar to the results of studies done in Japan. Yamashita et al 9 showed that vitamin D level of male and female GD subjects are 16.54±6.00 and 12.74±5.33 ng/mL. Yasuda et al 10 also showed that vitamin D level of new onset female GD patients of 14.4±4.9 ng/mL.…”