New Delhi researchers show that
vitamin D levels may be a useful index for the assessment of hip fracture risk
in elderly people.
A study in New Delhi India has
revealed high rates of vitamin D deficiency among hip fracture patients,
confirming the conclusions of similar international studies which point to
vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor for hip fracture.
A group of 90 hip fracture patients
was compared to a matched control group of similar age, sex and co-morbidity.
Of the patients who had suffered hip fractures, 76.7% were shown to be vitamin
D deficient as measured by serum 25(OH)D levels of less than 20 ng/ml. In
addition, 68.9% had elevated PTH levels. In comparison, only 32.3% of the
controls had vitamin D deficiency and 42.2% had elevated PTH levels (secondary
hyperparathyroidism).
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked
to the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and is increasingly thought to play a role
in muscle strength, certain cancers, multiple sclerosis and diabetes. Vitamin D
levels are very low in the Indian population in all age groups, and could be
explained by skin pigmentation, traditional clothing and the avoidance of
sunlight.
The results of the New Delhi study
confirm that serum 25 (OH)D levels may be a useful index for the assessment of
risk of hip fracture in elderly people.
The study (OC13) was presented at
the IOF Regionals – 1st Asia-Pacific Regional Osteoporosis Meeting being held
in Singapore from December 10-13, 2010.
All abstracts from the meeting have been published in Osteoporosis
International, Vol. 21, Suppl. 5, 2010.
http://www.iofbonehealth.org/news/indian-study-reveals-three-quarters-hip-fracture-patients-are-vitamin-d-deficient
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