High prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in community-dwelling postmenopausal Polish women

Abstract

IntroductionInadequate vitamin D level is associated with altered bone turnover and bone loss, which increases the fracture risk.AimTo assess the seasonal prevalence of inadequate (insufficient or deficient) serum vitamin D levels in community-dwelling postmenopausal Polish women screened for osteoporosis.Material and methodsA cross-sectional observational study based on the regional urban non-institutionalized sample (n = 107) of postmenopausal Caucasian women in the age range of 51-83 years, not taking any medication and free from any condition likely to affect vitamin D status or calcium/bone metabolism. The outcome measures were the mean 25-OH vitamin D level across all the seasons and the percentage of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency and defined as < 20 ng/dl (50 nmol/l) and 20-30 ng/dl (50-75 nmol/l), respectively.ResultsNo statistically significant difference has been found in the mean vitamin D level, regardless of the season (p = 0.4). The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were in spring 54% and 32%, in summer 46% and 46%, in autumn 67% and 27%, and in winter 61% and 22%, respectively.ConclusionsVitamin D inadequacy is common in a sample of Polish community-dwelling postmenopausal women regardless of the season.

Osteoporosis: Modern Paradigms for Last Century’s Bones

“…Vitamin D 3 , whose active form 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 is a cofactor required for calcium absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, is also strongly correlated with bone density [ 59 ]. Vitamin D insufficiency (25(OH)D 3 serum levels <50 nmol/L) is also not uncommon due to diet, lack of sun exposure, or genetic mutations [ 60 ], and many studies have shown that the majority of postmenopausal women in areas around the world have insufficient vitamin D levels [ 61 , 62 , 63 ].…”

Assessment of 25(OH)D concentration in people with metabolic syndrome working in agriculture

“…W piśmiennictwie znajdują się prace, w których autorzy opisują zmiany w stężeniu witaminy D w zależności od pory roku, jednak uzyskane przez nich wyniki nie są jednoznaczne. Część badaczy wykazywała istotne różnice w stężeniu 25(OH)D w zależności od pory roku, przy czym większe stężenie 25(OH)D w osoczu i rzadsze występowanie deficytowego jej stężenia stwierdzano w okresie wiosenno-letnim [26][27][28]. Inni uczeni uzyskali wyniki niepotwierdzające tej zależności.…”

Association of Vitamin D Deficiency and Thyroid Function in Postmenopausal Women

“…5 In addition to the limited oral intake and age-related decline in its absorption, decreased exposure to sunlight is among the leading causes of VitD insufficiency in women. 6 Agerelated changes that contribute to the reduced serum levels of this vitamin are mediated through the attenuation of hypodermal synthesis of VitD precursor, as well as reductions in alimentary absorption of cholesterol-based provitamin molecules in daily nutritional intake. 7 VitD insufficiency has been implicated in increasing prevalence of autoimmune diseases, including type I diabetes mellitus, 8 rheumatoid arthritis 9 and systemic lupus erythematosus.…”