title: Effect of supplementation with vitamin D3 and calcium on quantitative ultrasound of bone in elderly institutionalized women: a longitudinal study.
abstract: Supplementation of elderly institutionalized women with vitamin D and calcium decreased hip fractures and increased hip bone mineral density. Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) measurements can be performed in nursing homes, and easily repeated for follow-up. However, the effect of the correction of vitamin D deficiency on QUS parameters is not known. Therefore, 248 institutionalized women aged 62-98 years were included in a 2-year open controlled study. They were randomized into a treated group (n = 124), receiving 440 IU of vitamin D3 combined with 500 mg calcium (1250 mg calcium carbonate, Novartis) twice daily, and a control group (n = 124). One hundred and three women (42%), aged 84.5 +/- 7.5 years, completed the study: 50 in the treated group, 53 in the controls. QUS of the calcaneus, which measures BUA (broadband ultrasound attenuation) and SOS (speed of sound), and biochemical analysis were performed before and after 1 and 2 years of treatment. Only the results of the women with a complete follow-up were taken into account. Both groups had low initial mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels (11.9 +/- 1.2 and 11.7 +/- 1.2 micrograms/l; normal range 6.4-40.2 micrograms/l) and normal mean serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels (43.1 +/- 3.2 and 44.6 +/- 3.5 ng/l; normal range 10-70 ng/l, normal mean 31.8 +/- 2.3 ng/l). The treatment led to a correction of the metabolic disturbances, with an increase in 25-hydroxyvitamin D by 123% (p < 0.01) and a decrease in PTH by 18% (p < 0.05) and of alkaline phosphatase by 15% (p < 0.01). In the controls there was a worsening of the hypovitaminosis D, with a decrease of 25-hydroxyvitamin D by 51% (p < 0.01) and an increase in PTH by 51% (p < 0.01), while the serum calcium level decreased by only 2% (p < 0.01). After 2 years of treatment BUA increased significantly by 1.6% in the treated group (p < 0.05), and decreased by 2.3% in the controls (p < 0.01). Therefore, the difference in BUA between the treated subjects and the controls (3.9%) was significant after 2 years (p < 0.01). However, SOS decreased by the same amount in both groups (approximately 0.5%). In conclusion, BUA, but not SOS, reflected the positive effect on bone of supplementation with calcium and vitamin D3 in a population of elderly institutionalized women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Krieg
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Jacquet
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bremgartner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cuttelod
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thiébaud
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burckhardt
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D006962:Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D007326:Institutionalization; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D002762:Cholecalciferol; D002118:Calcium