Plasma Concentrations of Vitamin D Metabolites in Puberty: Effect of Sexual Maturation and Implications for Growth*

Abstract

To relate the vitamin D metabolism in puberty to sex, sexual maturation, and, indirectly, to growth velocity and cessation of growth, the plasma level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25-(OH)2D], 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [24,25-(OH)2D], and 25,26-(OH)2D were measured in 191 adolescents representing all stages of puberty. In girls, 1,25-(OH)2D3 increased from age 11 yr to a peak at 12 yr of age (P less than 0.0005) and then decreased. In boys, the increase occurred between 13--14 yr of age (P less than 0.005), with a subsequent decline. When the 1,25-(OH)2D concentrations were related to the stage of puberty, the girls showed a maximal increase between stages 1 and 2 (P less than 0.0005), with a peak at stage 3, whereas the boys had a significant increase from stage 2 to a peak at stage 3 (P less than 0.01). In both sexes, there were subsequent significantly decreasing values to stage 4 through stage 5. The ratio of 24,25-(OH)2D to 25-hydroxyvitamin D varied inversely with the 1,25-(OH)2D concentration, with the lowest value at age 12 yr in both sexes, followed by a gradual increase to a plateau at age 15 yr in girls and 17 yr in boys. It appears that the hormones of the vitamin D system add another dimension to the endocrinology of growth and puberty.

Vitamin D intake is low and hypovitaminosis D common in healthy 9− to 15-year-old Finnish girls

“…A Norwegian study on participants aged 8 ± 18 y found that supplementation of the diet with 10 mgad (400 IUad) vitamin D raised the S-25(OH)D concentration from 55 nmolal to 74 nmolal. In the same study, the seasonal variation raised the S-25(OH)D to 142 nmolal (Aksnes et al, 1982). The effect of vitamin D supplementation on the S-25(OH)D concentration has been demonstrated in several studies on elderly people worldwide (Chapuy et al, 1992;Heikinheimo et al, 1996;Lips et al, 1996).…”

Effects of different doses of oral cholecalciferol on serum 25(OH)D, PTH, calcium and bone markers during fall and winter in schoolchildren

“…This sequence of events is especially harmful for people of pediatric and adolescent age, in whom the majority of bone mass accrual occurs during this critical period of life (Aksnes and Aarskog, 1982;Ilich et al, 1997). Abbreviations: BSALP, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase; Ca, calcium; Cr, creatinine; PTH, parathyroid hormone.…”

Vitamin D in adolescence: evidence-based dietary requirements and implications for public health policy

“…concomitant decrease in circulating 25(OH)D has been reported (42,43) , although not consistently (44) . , although the evidence is inconsistent with others reporting no association between vitamin…”

“…Endogenous synthesis 41 Vitamin D is unique in that the majority of this nutrient (80-90%) is synthesised within the human 42 body following skin exposure to sunlight, hence vitamin D's recognition as the 'sunshine nutrient'.…”

“…reduced outdoor time, sedentary lifestyles) (41) and/or 128 biological mechanisms (42) . In order to meet the increased calcium demands for skeletal growth 129 during adolescence, the metabolism of 25(OH)D to the active 1,25(OH) 2 D is increased (42) and a…”