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Vitamin D status of 51–75-year-old Irish women: its determinants and impact on biochemical indices of bone turnover

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Tom R Hill ,
Maria M O'Brien ,
Christel Lamberg-Allardt ,
Jette Jakobsen ,
Mairead Kiely ,
Albert Flynn  and
Kevin D Cashman
Tom R Hill
Affiliation:
Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College, Cork, Ireland:
Maria M O'Brien
Affiliation:
Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College, Cork, Ireland:
Christel Lamberg-Allardt
Affiliation:
Calcium Research Unit, Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland:
Jette Jakobsen
Affiliation:
Danish Institute for Food and Veterinary Research, Söborg, Denmark:
Mairead Kiely
Affiliation:
Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College, Cork, Ireland:
Albert Flynn
Affiliation:
Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College, Cork, Ireland:
Kevin D Cashman*
Affiliation:
Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College, Cork, Ireland: Department of Medicine, University College, Cork, Ireland
*
*Corresponding author: Email k.cashman@ucc.ie
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Abstract

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Objectives

To assess the vitamin D status of Irish postmenopausal women during wintertime, and to examine its relationship with serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) and biochemical markers of bone turnover. In addition, the determinants of wintertime serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OH–D) levels in these women were investigated.

Design

A cross-sectional observational study.

Setting

Cork City, Ireland (52°N).

Subjects

Ninety-five apparently healthy, free-living postmenopausal women (aged 51–75 years), not taking any medication and free from any condition likely to affect vitamin D status or calcium/bone metabolism.

Results

Forty-eight per cent and 7% of women had serum 25OH–D levels <50 nmol l−1 and <25 nmol l−1, respectively. 25OH–D levels in these women were positively associated with dietary calcium intake (P = 0.0002) and use of vitamin D-containing supplements (P = 0.031), and negatively associated with cigarette smoking (P = 0.027) and body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.030). Low serum 25OH-D levels (<50 nmol l−1) were associated (P <0.01) with elevated serum PTH levels. There were no significant differences in urinary pyridinium crosslinks or serum osteocalcin, biochemical indices of bone turnover, between subjects with serum 25OH–D levels above or below 50 nmol l−1.

Conclusions

A high proportion of Irish postmenopausal women had low vitamin D status (< 50 nmol l−1) during late wintertime, which appeared to lead to elevated levels of serum PTH but not of bone turnover markers. Use of regular low-dose supplemental vitamin D, meeting daily calcium recommendations, cessation of smoking and maintaining BMI in the normal range are important factors that could help maintain adequate vitamin D levels during wintertime in these women.

Keywords

Vitamin D statusDeterminantsPostmenopausal womenBone turnover
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 9 , Issue 2 , April 2006 , pp. 225 - 233
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2006

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