Hypovitaminosis D and elevated serum alkaline phosphatase in elderly Irish people.
The vitamin D status of 181 elderly Irish community-dwelling and institutionalized subjects was studied during Winter-Spring. The mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was 10 nmol/L (95% range less than 5.0-59 nmol/L); values were below 25 nmol/L in 79 percent of subjects. A significant seasonal variation of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels was noted in elderly community-dwelling subjects. The previously documented age-related increase in serum alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly less in vitamin D replete subjects than in vitamin D deplete subjects in this study (P less than 0.005). The higher serum alkaline phosphatase values found in the vitamin D deplete subjects may represent mild secondary hyperparathyroidism or osteomalacia. The relationship of vitamin D status to both dietary intake and effective sunlight (latitude) is examined.
D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood*; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012621:Seasons; D013472:Sunlight; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002112:Calcifediol