Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2011 May;54(5):241-246. 10.5468/KJOG.2011.54.5.241.

The serum vitamin D nutritional status and its relationship with skeletal status in Korean postmenopausal women

• Lee MK
• Yoon BK
• Chung HY
• Park HM

• KMID: 2078018
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/KJOG.2011.54.5.241

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status of vitamin D and its relationship with skeletal status in postmenopausal Korean women.
METHODS
We studied 322 ambulatory postmenopausal women recruited in Seoul, Korea. The research was performed from October 2008 to March 2009. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay and serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) level was measured by immunoradiometric assay. The bone mineral densities were measured at the lumbar spine and femur using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry.
RESULTS
The mean serum 25(OH)D level was 16.0 +/- 7.1 ng/mL and the mean serum PTH level was 34.0 +/- 13.7 pg/mL. About 90% of all studied postmenopausal women were in vitamin D inadequate status. Although serum vitamin D level was the lowest in osteoporotic postmenopausal women, no significant differences were found in serum level of vitamin D among normal, osteopenic, and osteoporotic women (P =0.4689). Vitamin D level in elderly women over 65 years was significant lower than non-elderly women (P =0.0011). But no significant differences were found in vitamin D levels between early and late postmenopausal women (P =0.9882). Serum vitamin D level in winter and spring was significantly lower than serum vitamin D level in autumn (P < 0.0001). Serum vitamin D level was negatively correlated with serum PTH level (r = -0.3054, P < 0.0001).
CONCLUSION
About three quarters of postmenopausal women were in vitamin D deficient status regardless of the status of bone health. Therefore, it is recommended to prescribe the supplemental vitamin D to improve bone health of postmenopausal Korean women.

Keyword

Menopause; Vitamin D; Bone health

MeSH Terms

Aged
Bone Density
Female
Femur
Humans
Immunoradiometric Assay
Korea
Menopause
Nutritional Status
Parathyroid Hormone
Radioimmunoassay
Spine
Vitamin D
Vitamins
Parathyroid Hormone
Vitamin D
Vitamins

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Vitamin D nutritional status according to bone health (P=0.4689).

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  Fig. 2 Correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) (P<0.0001).

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